ST. LOUIS (AP) - A University of Missouri official says the school hopes to join the SEC but would have preferred an offer from the Big Ten.

The person, who is familiar with the discussions involving conference affiliation, spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the school has not commented publicly about its intentions.

Missouri curators voted unanimously Tuesday night to give Chancellor Brady Deaton authority to look elsewhere rather than immediately commit to the troubled Big 12 conference.

The Big 12 is down to 10 members and will lose Texas A&M to the SEC next year.

Missouri hoped to join the Big Ten in 2010 but the league instead chose Nebraska from the Big 12. The university official says the Big Ten remains Missouri's top choice but that conference "has no interest."