Opinion Letters IN YOUR VIEW | Switching Conferences: Should public universities require legislative approval before making a change? Well, by now just about everyone has heard about the University of Texas (and rival Oklahoma University) leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference. Jul. 29 2021 @ 6:17pm Well, by now just about everyone has heard about the University of Texas (and rival Oklahoma University) leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference. Many UT supporters are happy. So are the SEC and the university. The Southeastern Conference deal will mean more money all around. But not for everyone. Other Texas Big 12 schools, such as Texas Tech and Baylor, are fuming. Losing UT means less money for them. And businesses in Lubbock and Waco will lose millions from the influx of Longhorn fans on home game days in their cities.