Missouri To Be in SEC East in 2012-13

Updated Nov. 7, 2011

The Southeastern Conference will be a 14-team league in 2012-13 after all.

SEC officials announced Sunday that the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, will join the confererence for the 2012-13 academic year. That brings the league to 14 teams, since Texas A&M already was admitted this year..

Also, the Birmingham News has reported that Missouri will be in the SEC East, along with the University of Georgia. "That allows us to maintain our divisional rivalries, and I think it serves us very, very well with the least amount of disruption," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said.

“The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference are pleased to welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC,” said Dr. Bernie Machen, president of the SEC Presidents and Chancellors and president of the University of Florida.  “The University of Missouri is a prestigious academic institution with a strong athletic tradition and a culture similar to our current institutions.”

“I am pleased to officially welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC family on behalf of our presidents, chancellors, athletics directors, students and fans,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “Missouri is an outstanding academic institution with a strong athletic program. We look forward to having the Tigers compete in our league starting in 2012.”

Missouri athletic teams have excelled recently. Its men’s basketball team has made it to the NCAA Tournament three straight seasons and 24 times overall, according to the SEC. The Tiger football team has been to postseason bowl games for six straight years and 28 times overall.

Also, this opens SEC football to television markets in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Missouri has an enrollment of 33,800 students, which would be the fourth-largest institution in the SEC, with Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M having a larger student body. There are more than 260,000 “Mizzou” alumni around the world.