The "saving" of the Big 12-2 was orchestrated by Rick Perry

This from a friend in Austin who has no love loss for UT: Coming up on a reelection year, there was no way in hell that Perry was going to allow unhappy football fans from UT, Baylor and Tech to blame him for the destruction of the traditional rivalries and opening the gates to allow the SEC into Texas. So he took the politically expedient route and threw his alma mater (A&M) under the bus. Simple as that. He exerted some pressure on some well-placed Regents and they folded like a cheap suit.

There is still a chance this thing may unravel. I prediect we're back here going through the same exercise in two years.