In a story first reported by Sporting News, an announcement is expected to come next week, possibly as early as Monday, that the SEC will accept the University of Missouri as the 14th member.

According to the story, Missouri will join the SEC next year. Commissioner Mike Slive would not comment. A week and a half ago MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said a decision could come within a day, a week or two weeks.

St. Louis in the World Series, a Alabama-LSU matchup this weekend and the possible negotiation of exit fees from the Big 12, could have all been factors in why the announcement took longer than expected.