Oklahoma Coach Porter Moser Addresses Sooners' Move to the SEC

News of the Sooners' jump to the Southeastern Conference in 2024, rather than 2025, has given coaches and recruits some "clarity" about "when," he said.

Oklahoma is 12-12 this season, just 2-9 in Big 12 Conference play. The Sooners welcome No. 9-ranked Kansas to Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday at noon.

OU coach Porter Moser isn’t really focused right now on the Sooners’ future in the Southeastern Conference.

Still, that’s the news of the day in Norman. Moser on Friday was able to offer his thoughts on OU’s move to the SEC in 2024.

“You know what? I truly have not thought about specific teams,” he said. “I thought about taking on Alabama two weeks ago. But I truly haven't thought about taking on specific teams in the SEC.”

The last time a ranked team came to the LNC, Moser and the Sooners put an historic beatdown on the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide.

But that’s the past. The future will get here soon enough. While Moser’s attention is on the Jayhawks, he also acknowledges that recruiting is happening in the present as well, and that’s something he needs to think about as he continues to try fortifying the OU roster.

“I’m just glad we have clarity,” Moser said. “So I know, talking to recruits, the class of 2024, now know that when we recruit that class, they're going to be playing in the SEC.

“Clarity. Knowing,” he reiterated. “So we can know when. That not knowing was the tricky part. But now that we know, my whole focus is competing in this Big 12, beating Kansas tomorrow, getting ready to finish off this year. We got another year (before leaving). So the biggest thing was the clarity of knowing.”

There’s no forgiveness for mediocrity in a conference as powerful as the Big 12, so the league’s strength is taking its toll on the Sooners. OU has lost three in a row and six of its last seven.

But Moser suggested such a thing could happen in just about any power league.

“College basketball, the leagues are cyclical,” he said. “You know, we've had for some years the Big Ten was really good. Some years the ACC’s really good. We're in a two-year window of unprecedented territory with the Big 12. I mean, it's unprecedented what's going on. I mean, to have this many top teams.

“And so that focus has got to be on that — what you’re in right there.

“So that is where our focus is, to compete right now, for us to get better. The recruiting, you know, I know we'll answer a million questions when the season's over. But we’ve obviously got to keep building your roster. … That'll be a key.”