Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive said Texas A&M joining the SEC is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when,” in a statement Monday.
Slive said the SEC first became interested in a possible expansion when it was contacted by Texas A&M President Richard Loftin.
“While the SEC wasn’t thinking about expansion, it was impossible not to be interested in Texas A&M,” Slive said.
When put to vote last week, all 12 SEC presidents voted to accept Texas A&M, but only if the school is free of legal issues stemming from its departure from the Big 12.
Several Big 12 schools  — namely Baylor  — have said they don’t support Texas A&M’s departure and have the right to file a lawsuit on behalf of their concerns.
If Texas A&M does eventually make its way to the SEC, long lost rivalries within the SEC would be rekindled.
Texas A&M and Arkansas have squared off in the Southwest Classic 67 times since 1903, but only twice since 1992. The rivalry was put on hold when Arkansas left the Southwest Conference for the SEC in 1991. Arkansas leads the all-time series 40-24-3.
LSU and Texas A&M have met 50 times, including in LSU’s 2011 Cotton Bowl victory. But not since 1995 has the match-up occurred on a yearly basis. The teams met every year between 1942-49, 1955-56, 1960-75 and 1986-95. LSU leads the all-time series 27-20-3.
“It was a big rivalry before we stopped playing them,” said sophomore linebacker Kevin Minter. “It would be nice to have that program.”
Slive also noted Texas A&M’s “passionate fans and wonderful traditions” as why the school would be a good fit for the SEC.
The topic of expansion in the SEC has been a mainstay in the news since late August when the Aggies decided they would leave the Big 12, but that doesn’t mean it’s a topic of discussion among all of LSU’s football players.
“We don’t look at that right now,” said sophomore wide receiver Kadron Boone. “We’re just focusing on one game at a time during the season. Whatever happens,