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Texas A&M said Tuesday it did not send a formal letter of withdrawal to the Big 12 board, contrary to a report from the New York Times Monday.
The denial was issued Tuesday morning on Twitter by Texas A&M's VP of Marketing and Communication, Jason Cook.
"Contrary to media reports this morning, Texas A&M did NOT send a withdrawal letter to the Big 12 on Monday," Cook wrote.
Monday's report in the New York Times stated that Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin had sent a letter to Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton, informing him that the Aggies would formally withdraw from the conference — likely on Tuesday.
New York Times reporter Pete Thamel tweeted Tuesday he had been misinformed about the letter, but reported that Loftin did call Deaton Monday night to discuss withdrawal.
Texas A&M formally notified the Big 12 last week that the school was exploring a departure to the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Loftin had suggested Saturday that there was nothing the Big 12 could do to stop Texas A&M from leaving in a call with the conference's university presidents.
The SEC schools' presidents must still approve Texas A&M's entry into the 12-team conference. The school is also negotiating an exit fee with the Big 12, which is reportedly expected to be worth $10-15 million.
Reports surfaced on Aug. 13 that A&M had decided to leave the Big 12 to become the SEC's 13th member. Two days later, the university's Board of Regents granted Loftin permission to negotiate a move out of the Big 12.
