Texas A&M backs out of two-game deal with Oregon
Texas A&M has elected to opt out of a two-game, home-and-home series scheduled with the Oregon Ducks for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, FOX Sports reported on Thursday afternoon.
The deal was abrogated by Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman, who invoked a clause in the contract allowing the team to back out if it changed conferences.
In 2009, when the agreement was made, the Aggies were a member of the Big 12. The school joined the SEC in in July 2012.
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"We are disappointed in Texas A&M's decision," Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement. "We want to continue to provide marquee non-conference matchups for our fans. Scheduling is very difficult and when a team cancels a game we need to work even harder to find a suitable replacement."
The Ducks, 6-1 and leading the Pac-12 North division, face California on the road this weekend. After the cancelation, Oregon's only scheduled non-conference opponents in 2018 and 2019 are Bowling Green and Nevada.
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Texas A&M is 5-3 and currently sixth in the SEC West. Last year, Hyman cancelled a 2009 deal made with USC to play a home-and-home series in 2015 and 2016. At the time, Hyman cited the school's potential move to the SEC as the reason for the withdrawal.
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