Texas snubs Pac-10, stays in Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas - The Big 12 is alive and kicking.

The University of Texas Monday said it was staying in the Big 12, followed moments later by pledges from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A & M to remain in a league that had seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years.

The Texas announcement came shortly after Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed to The Associated Press in an e-mail that Texas had declined an invitation to become the 12th member of his conference. Scott said Texas president William Powers Jr. told him "the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together." Powers wouldn't give any details about why the school decided to stay put when asked by the AP. The school has scheduled a news conference this morning.

A person with direct knowledge of discussions among the Big 12's remaining members said Texas is clear to set up its own TV network and keep all proceeds in exchange for remaining in the Big 12.

The fate of the conference born in 1996 when the Big Eight merged with four members of the Southwest Conference has been at risk for days, and Texas emerged as the key to the Big 12's survival. The Pac-10 courted Texas and other Big 12 South Division schools, while Texas A & M reportedly expressed interest in going to the Southeastern Conference. "Texas A & M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to be affiliated with the conference in the future," school president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement.

Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU president Burns Hargis singling out Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe for his "bold moves and intense efforts."