Missouri to SEC: School Doesn't Have Necessary Votes Yet

Missouri might have its heart set on joining the SEC, but the school does not have the necessary amount of votes to earn an invite, according to a report.

Missouri authorized its chancellor to review the school's conference affiliation on Tuesday, leading many to speculate it was only a matter of time before the school left the Big 12 for the SEC.

But although the SEC is interested in adding in Missouri, the Birmingham News reported that the school doesn't have the necessary nine majority votes to get an official membership invite.

Part of what could be holding back Missouri getting an invite to join the SEC are some school administrators hoping to sit tight and look at what other options the SEC might have for its 14^th spot.

In addition to Missouri, Maryland and Virginia Tech have both been speculated as potential SEC expansion targets, including by Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari.

In Missouri's favor - and the main reason it is believed to have a good amount of support within the conference - is the lucrative television markets in its backyard. Missouri lays claim to the Kansas City and St. Louis television markets that would allow the SEC to improve its geographic footprint and likely charge more money in its next television rights negotiations.

Earlier this week, Missouri's Board of Curators authorized the school's chancellor to review the school's conference affiliation options, including a possible departure from the Big 12. The school has flirted with joining other conferences in the past, including privately expressing interest to the Big 10 in 2010, but the process appears farther along with its interest in the SEC.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the school still preferred the Big 10 to the SEC, but the Big 10's lack of interest left the SEC as the only viable option outside of a reformed Big 12.

That's what's left, an unnamed Missouri official told The Associated Press.

When Oklahoma was expected to head to the Pac-12 in early September, multiple Missouri media outlets reported that Missouri was interested in and had an offer from the SEC. Clearly that doesn't appear to be the case right now, but it's clear that there is reciprocal interest between the two parties.

SEC school administrators met on Wednesday for a four-hour meeting to discuss scheduling for 13 teams, among other issues, for next season. The Birmingham News reported there was a split between schools that were looking to schedule 13 teams, while others wanted to talk expansion and a 14-team schedule.