Document outlines Mizzou SEC explorations

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The document anticipated Big 12 exit penalties of roughly $25.9 million — the low end of what other sources had feared could be as high as $40 million withheld over two years — and theorized a more likely exit fee would ultimately be $10.4 million if Missouri were to give the Big 12 two years of notice before departing.

Even without such notice, prior Big 12 departures resulted in only $9.62 million of penalties from Nebraska and $6.86 million from Colorado.

Another piece of information that Missouri officials did not want public — an anonymous MU official telling the AP last week that some MU officials might prefer a move to the Big Ten over the SEC even after the Big Ten invited Nebraska last year — caused a rift with certain SEC officials.

MU and SEC officials, however, appear beyond that bump in the road. Current issues in the SEC, according to reports, include Alabama not wanting to give up its traditional football game with Tennessee and not having Auburn gain a recruiting advantage in Georgia and Florida by shifting to the SEC’s East Division if Missouri were added to the West.

That next step toward the SEC, if it were to follow the scenario established when Texas A&M embarked on its move from the Big 12 to the SEC, could be Missouri formally notifying the Big 12 of its intention to leave.

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