The Big Ten is reportedly in discussions with the Pac-12 and ACC about forming a schedule alliance and a broader partnership, according to a report.

That’s per The Athletic’s Max Olson, who reports that “high-level” discussions have been ongoing for multiple weeks.

The alliance would also include a “broader cooperation” as the three leagues would be able to vote together on issues such as College Football Playoff expansion.

This is all in response to the SEC’s move of adding Texas and Oklahoma, which was finalized late last month. At 16 teams, the SEC would be the largest — and theoretically the most powerful — conference in the country.

However, if athletic directors from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC all vote together as a block, they would vastly out-number the SEC’s 16 votes.

“This is their shot right back at the SEC,” one athletic director told Olson.

College Football Playoff expansion is still widely expected to happen at some point in the near future, but the Sooners and Longhorns’ jump to the SEC could have inadvertently delayed the process. Ohio State AD Gene Smith said earlier this summer that he’d be in favor of hitting the “pause button” on the topic.

According to Olson’s report, the remaining eight teams in the Big 12 are not expected to be included in the alliance.

Per The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach, a formal alliance between the three conferences could be announced before specific details are decided.

Texas and Oklahoma are currently slated to move to the SEC in 2025, although it’s possible it could happen prior to that date.