The chancellor of the University of Missouri was given authority by the school’s governing board to possibly move out of the Big 12 Conference, according to the Associated Press.

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton was given the green light to explore the possibility of a move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference after a two-day Board of Curators meeting that concluded Friday.

“We’ve provided information to the SEC,” Deaton said in an AP report. “We would anticipate that any decision we make would be apropos to next season.”

Deaton went on to say discussions about realignment are currently ongoing and that a “decision will be undertaken expeditiously.”

The Big 12 could not be reached for comment initially, but has sense released a statement.

“We look forward to discussing Missouri’s future with the Big 12 Conference,” said interim commissioner Chuck Neinas in a news release. “The school has been involved with the Big 12 and its predecessor conferences since 1907. It is propitious that the Big 12 Board of Directors has a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday.

“Obviously, conference membership will be thoroughly discussed at that time.”

Missouri has reportedly had sour feelings toward the Big 12 since being denied an invitation to the Big Ten last year that instead went to Nebraska, which left the conference in July.

If Missouri leaves, it will be the fourth team to leave the Big 12 since Nebraska and Colorado parted ways with the 15-year-old conference for the Big Ten and Pac-12. Texas A&M will be leaving the Big 12 for the SEC in July 2012.

However, Texas Christian University announced on Oct. 10 that it would be joining the Big 12 in A&M’s absence, effective July 1, 2012.

“Should this decision lead to our departure from the Big 12, this board is committed to doing what we can to preserve the rich tradition and heritage that is very important to us here,” said curators chairman Warren Erdman.

Missouri also announced that it will explore the option of establishing both an annual football game and holiday basketball tournament in Kansas City, Mo. In football, already Missouri plays its annual conference game against Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City as part of the “Border War”, which is the official rivalry of the two.

Speculation has arisen as to whether a move to the SEC for Missouri would put an end to the Border War, which has hosted an annual football game since 1891 and an annual men’s basketball game since 1907.

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