The celebrations of joining the SEC just mean more to Oklahoma and Texas.
After agreeing to join the league three years ago and negotiating a deal with the Big 12 to leave a year early, July 1 is the official day the Sooners and Longhorns join the SEC. Both schools are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the occasion.
Texas will celebrate on Sunday, one day before the official move, with an “all-day SEC celebration” that includes a performance by a Grammy Award-winning artist, while Oklahoma will begin its celebration that day and lead into the first official day as an SEC member. The SEC Network will also be on both campuses hosting shows to welcome the conference’s newest members.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Our College Football Top 25 Too Early After Spring Practice
RE-RANKING: After spring practice, all college football teams were ranked 1-134.
Here are just a few of the things Oklahoma and Texas have planned for their welcome to the SEC:
Texas plans big SEC celebration on Sunday
Texas will host a free event on its Austin campus starting at 2:00 p.m. local time that will include interactive games, activities, food and drinks for fans. Campus museums, such as the LBJ Presidential Library and the Texas Museum of Science and Natural History, will have free activities starting at 1:00 p.m. local time.
Fans will be able to take part in multiple photo ops, including with the iconic Bevo and the Longhorn Band. Texas-SEC merchandise will also be available for purchase. The SEC Network will broadcast live from the main mall from 5 to 9 p.m., and the same area will also host concerts from various artists.
The evening’s main attraction will begin at 8:30 p.m., when SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and the university administration will host a ceremony officially welcoming Texas to the SEC and featuring a fireworks show. Afterward, “Mr. Worldwide” Pitbull will perform a free concert.
Oklahoma has two days reserved for the SEC celebration
Oklahoma’s festivities will begin Sunday night with a run to the SEC 5K Glow Run at 11 p.m. that will culminate inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. When the clock strikes midnight, there will be a fireworks display as the Sooners officially become members of the SEC. At the same time, there will also be a sale of OU-branded SEC products at a pop-up store inside the stadium.
On Monday morning, Oklahoma will host “Wake Up in the SEC” events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa at 8 a.m. with university administrators, current and former coaches, as well as the band. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., pep rallies will be held throughout the Norman area.
The SEC Network will broadcast from inside the football stadium from 2 to 8 pm and will host a “Party In The Palace” event at 5 pm on the field, which will feature various activities and photo opportunities, as well as live music . A meeting with the university administration will be held at 9:30 p.m. and the event will close with a drone show.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.