ARKANSAS, FLORIDA ST., MIAMI ACCEPT SEC CONSIDERATION

Arkansas, Florida State and Miami have agreed to be placed under consideration for acceptance into the Southeastern Conference, the schools' athletic directors say.

The SEC did not extend an official invitation to join but rather asked whether the schools would consider joining if an invitation were extended. All three schools said yes.Arkansas has been in the Southwest Conference for 76 years. Florida State is an independent in football and a Metro Conference member in other sports. Miami is an independent in all sports.

Miami Athletic Director Jankovich said he agreed to be considered last weekend while attending the College Football Association meetings in Dallas. Upon Jankovich's recommendation, university President Edward Foote II - the man who will ultimately decide whether to join - then telephoned SEC commissioner Roy Kramer late last week to accept the invitation for consideration.

Florida State President Bernard Sliger has also been in contact with Kramer, Seminoles Athletic Director Bob Goin said.

Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles confirmed that his school has also accepted an offer to be considered.

Should Arkansas join, it might open the door for SWC brethen Texas and Texas A&M to be considered by the SEC. Texas' big television market is attractive to the SEC.

"I think realignment (of major conferences) is inevitable," Louisiana State Athletic Director Joe Dean said. "This is somewhat of a television-driven thing."

Kramer said there is no timetable for when the SEC might extend formal bids to join.

Vince Dooley, athletic director at SEC-member Georgia, said the league probably will expand in pairs, taking either two or four new teams but probably not six. Dooley said the SEC would then split into two six- or seven-team divisions.