Big 12 Commissioner sends cease and desist letter to ESPN

The letter accuses ESPN of having a role in OU and Texas leaving the Big 12 conference.

OKLAHOMA — Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has sent a cease and desist letter to ESPN.

The letter, sent Wednesday, accuses ESPN of taking specific actions intended to harm the Big 12 while financially benefiting the sports network.

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated obtained a copy of the report.

This comes after Oklahoma University and the University of Texas sent a joint letter earlier this week, formally requesting membership in the SEC.

In the letter, Bowlsby also accuses ESPN of pushing other conferences to pick apart the Big 12, which could lead to the conference’s collapse. If that were to happen, it would allow OU and Texas to leave the Big 12 without paying a massive buyout.

All current members of the SEC are set to vote on Oklahoma and Texas’ request on Thursday. The OU and Texas Board of Regents have special meetings scheduled for Friday.