Report: A&M notifies Big 12 it plans to leave

Texas A&M has notified the Big 12 it will withdraw from the conference, according to a newspaper report.

The New York Times said in a story posted on its website Monday night that Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton to inform the league it was leaving. The report cited two unidentified college officials with direct knowledge of the decision.

This comes after the Texas A&M said earlier in the day that the Big 12 responded to the university's request that it outline the requirements to leave the league.

The Big 12 declined to comment on the letter it sent Texas A&M, but this appears to be the next step in what looks like an imminent move to the SEC for the Aggies.

The notice of withdrawal does not mean the school would immediately be granted SEC membership. The university would still need nine of 12 votes from SEC presidents to gain entrance into the league.