Across college football this year, there’s been plenty of awkwardness with teams set to be in other conferences next year. That was true in perhaps the final Pac-12 Championship Game Friday between the Big Ten-bound Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks, and it’s true in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game, featuring the soon-to-be-SEC Texas Longhorns and the staying-put Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Texas situation is particularly interesting for the public comments from Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, though.
At a Texas Tech Red Raiders media lunch in August, Yormark made very specific comments about being happy the conference worked out a deal to let the Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners leave for the SEC next year (rather than the initially-planned date of 2025, which would have drawn out the awkwardness here). And he also said outright he hoped Texas Tech would beat Texas in their Thanksgiving game.
That saw immediate backlash from Texas figures and fans, and the Longhorns even fired back after their 57-7 win over the Red Raiders Friday, playing footage of Yormark’s August remarks on their video board. But, ahead of Saturday’s game, Yormark tried to walk all that back and say whoever wins will be a good Big 12 representative, and added that he’ll support any efforts to get Texas in the College Football Playoff (at 11-1, they’re currently ranked seventh there) if they win.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark: “If Texas wins, they certainly deserve consideration for a spot in the playoff. No question about it. They’ve had a great season and we’ll strongly support them in any way we can should they win today’s game.” pic.twitter.com/IbLuY7L7RE
— Max Olson (@max_olson) December 2, 2023
Brett Yormark on #Texas:
“Just to put it behind us, I love the Texas team.” pic.twitter.com/cwgoDQHvgO
— Justin Goosman (@justin_g30) December 2, 2023
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said he thanks Texas and Oklahoma for getting them to where we they are today, being pillars in this conference, and creating a great history and legacy. Said he wishes Texas and Oklahoma well and will be rooting for both teams in the SEC
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) December 2, 2023
"We wish them well, and I'll be rooting them on in the SEC." – Brett Yormark on Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12.
— Caleb Yum (@YumCaleb) December 2, 2023
This came after Yormark received boos from Texas fans while he was walking through Arlington’s AT&T Stadium ahead of his remarks:
#Big12 commissioner Brett Yormark greeted by #Longhorns’ fans before Big 12 title game. pic.twitter.com/mCBbPGDY9I
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrown247) December 2, 2023
For reference, Yormark’s August remarks included “Candidly, we were able to get Texas and Oklahoma out of here early. That’s a big deal for us and I think for all of you,” and [to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire], “I’m not going to put any pressure on you, but I’m going to be in Austin on Thanksgiving. And you better take care of business like you did right here in Lubbock last year.” And that sparked Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian to tell his team “Embrace the hate,” but also “You can’t just sit back and keep taking punches and it’s just OK.” And this led to the scoreboard trolling last week:
University of Texas just trolled Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark at the end of Texas vs Texas Tech … pic.twitter.com/EIcB9b9EO0
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) November 25, 2023
For his part, though, Yormark said he has no regrets over his August comments.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark on whether he learned anything from the backlash to his comments in Lubbock:
“I never go backwards. I never look back.”
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) December 2, 2023
There’s no word yet on if Yormark and the Big 12 will be twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom or not.
But regardless of Yormark’s walk-back here, it’s going to be quite interesting to see what happens if Texas wins this game and he has to present them the trophy.
[Max Olson on Twitter]
