(Image Source: Big 12 Conference)

BY LAUREN DELANEY

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Is Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 or not? 

The Associated Press is reporting, the school officially notified the Big 12 Conference -- itwill submit an application to join another conference. 

If accepted - A&M will leave the Big 12 by June 30th of next year.

So where does that leave the Big 12 conference? Several ESPN analysts hold different opinions on the issue.

“I don’t think it’s gonna survive, whatever might happen.”

“Yes it’s going to survive."

“Yeah I’m going to sell it, it’s not because the Big 12 might not survive but it won’t be because Texas A&M left, they don’t move the needle that much, they’re not that significant to the future of the conference. The problem with the Big 12 is the most logical team for them to pick up is the most impossible, Arkansas.”

“It’s over. The Big 12…we’re down to 9 teams, that leaves them vulnerable for the Pac 12 to come in and swoop in, the SEC comes in and swoops in, Texas may become its own entity; I just don’t think they can survive. “

Analysts are torn, but almost all of them discuss whether board members will introduce more teams to the conference.

“There’s lots of talk over if the Big 12 will invite other teams to join the conference, BYU, Notre Dame have been talked about, so far SMU is the only school though to publicly say it wants in the Big 12.” (KOCO)

According to Sporting News, a few other options the Big 12 conference may pursue include TCU and Houston.

Columbia Missouri radio station KFRU interviewed Mizzou Chancellor Brady Deaton, who chairs the Big 12 board of directors. Deaton says the board has a committee designed to look for potential replacements.

“We have been aware of the interest of the other universities that have been made aware, some I suspected even said publicly, I’m saying without knowing for sure, but you might say it’s in the air. And we know that there is some interest there from a variety of institutions and for good reasons.   The Big 12 is a very attractive conference, it’s strong, it has a very effective contract in place and cable rights and potential negotiating power in the media.”

While Deaton remains optimistic, many sports reporters feel otherwise. Byran Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes,

 “This is a conference that is fighting for its life and it’s time they start acting like it.”

The AP reports the conference will move forward aggressively with the search for new potential conference members.