By Andrew Logue and Jennifer Jacobs, Des Moines Register

On the day Texas governor Rick Perry launched his presidential campaign in Iowa, he hit the pause button on college football realignment related to his home state.

Perry, a Texas A&M alum, was asked Monday about the potential for the Aggies to leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.

"I think the SEC said they were happy with 12 (schools)," Perry said. "So I don't think anybody is going to be going anywhere.

"But it's their call. That's how that process works."

SEC officials met Sunday and reaffirmed satisfaction with their current 12-member format. Instead of closure, however, the SEC's statement spawned uncertainty.

Was the decision simply legal posturing? Was it a sign of political wrangling? How much longer will Iowa State and other Big 12 institutions remain in limbo?

On Monday, the Texas A&M Board of Regents authorized university President R. Bowen Loftin to handle all matters concerning conference alignment. Meanwhile, the Texas House Committee on Higher Education postponed a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, to discuss the possibility of A&M joining the SEC.

Perry stoked speculation about A&M bolting from the Big 12 last week when he acknowledged conversations had taken place between the Aggies and the SEC. On Monday, though, he told the Des Moines Register that Big 12-wide panic seemed premature.

"I'm sure when the Southwest Conference was disintegrated, that there were those who thought it was the end of the world. I'm sure when Colorado and Nebraska left to go to the respective conferences they went to, there were naysayers out there," Perry said. "My instinct is that no matter what happens, we'll wake up and the sun will still come up from the east."