Missouri to join SEC

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton has announced that Missouri will join the Southeastern Conference for the 2012-13 school year. Here is a breakdown of how Big 12 and SEC football and basketball programs stack up on the playing field and in the classroom.

Missouri will join the conference effective July 1, 2012, and will compete in the SEC for the 2012-13 academic year.

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and Athletics Director Mike Alden will lead a news conference and celebration to announce Missouri's entry into the SEC at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the MU Student Center.

With Missouri seemingly on the verge of bolting from the Big 12 and joining the SEC, there's plenty of chatter on blogs and over coffee about cultural identity and football traditions.

"Football is kind of king" in the SEC, said South Carolina fan Amanda Heckert.