Is Nebraska a cautionary tale for Oklahoma and its move to SEC?

Copy Link

Email

Print

Reactions

AS OKLAHOMA ATHLETIC director Joe Castiglione drove to church the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving in 2021, he received the most stunning phone call of his professional career. Lincoln Riley was on the other line. Out of nowhere, the Sooners coach told Castiglione he was considering leaving for USC.

Castiglione never made it to church. Two hours later, in a meeting with Castiglione and OU president Joseph Harroz Jr., Riley made it clear he had already decided to bolt for Los Angeles.

Earlier that summer, OU and Texas, just as stunningly, announced they would exit the Big 12 together and join the SEC. Over the following four months, and even then in their final…