Print edition: 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Those who wanted a decision sooner rather than later on Missouri staying in the Big 12 or applying for admission to the Southeastern Conference were disappointed Thursday.
The subject was surely discussed in the afternoon at a closed executive session of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Missouri athletic director Mike Alden was included in that session.
But Alden and the curators took a back-door exit out of their meeting room at the UMKC Student Union. At that point, a spokesman told reporters that no action had been taken and there was no comment to be made.
Curators chairman Warren Erdman told The Kansas City Star earlier Thursday that he would not talk about a timeline for such a decision "until the appropriate time." He said Wednesday evening he would "have nothing to say on that until Friday. If there is anything to say then."
Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton on Thursday referenced Erdman's mention of Friday as the earliest time for possible comment on conference alignment.
"That would be consistent," Deaton said.
The curators resume meeting at 9 a.m. at UMKC, with another closed executive session scheduled for 10 a.m.
Sources who have consistently indicated to The Star that Missouri was moving forward with strong interest in becoming the 14th member of the SEC remain steadfast in that point of view. The New York Times, citing a source familiar with the situation, reported earlier this week that Missouri's move to the SEC was "inevitable and imminent."
The Birmingham News, citing multiple sources, has reported Alabama would not oppose adding Missouri to the SEC as long as the Tigers were put in the East Division, keeping Auburn in the SEC West with Alabama.
Alabama apparently does not want to allow Auburn to gain a bigger recruiting presence in Florida and Georgia. Also, adding Missouri to the East Division would allow Alabama to continue playing archrival Tennessee every year.
It's assumed that Missouri would not object to either divisional placement. If Mizzou were added to the East and Texas A&M — set to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC next season — landed in the West, the traditional SEC powers would be evenly split.
Alabama, Auburn and LSU would be in the West; Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the East.
No school outside that group has won an SEC football title since the league went to a championship-game format.
As for the Big 12, Missouri officials want changes involving Texas' Longhorn Network, a long-term grant of media rights, bowl-slotting rules and a return to 12 teams with divisional play.
Texas recently promised not to show any high school games or highlights on the Longhorn Network but in return agreed to only a six-year grant of first- and second-tier television rights. Is a six-year grant of rights enough of a deterrent to keep Texas or Oklahoma from relying on their deep financial resources to make a jump to another conference? If Texas or Oklahoma were to leave — an option both schools acknowledge they have explored — the Big 12 would be severely crippled.
The Big 12 has not made an announcement regarding Missouri's concerns over bowl slotting procedures. Nor has there been any guarantee of the Big 12 restoring its membership to 12 schools wit h divisional play in football and a return to a football championship game.
