Mountain of salt and all that....

Quote:Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
This is going to take a bit. Plenty of tweets incoming. This info comes from BTM on Saturday night. (Dinner-Sushi) BTM is a Big Ten Source who has broken multiple local and national stories though us on Twitter and @Minnesota247

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Again..all info is coming from BTM. From Big Ten perspective. It’s real...it’s big.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
I shared some of this info before today with my good friend @Expansion_Crush. I was hoping to use different platform to distribute this info. Story for another day.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
FOX Sports (21st Century FOX) who owns 51% of Big Ten Network and holds 50% of Big Ten Tier 1/2 Contract from 2017-2022 + Big Ten Football CCG is overjoyed with the content and ratings Big Ten have delivered in first 2 years of said contract.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
It can’t be undersold the relationship FOX Sports and Big Ten now has..the relationship is cemented in the fact Mark Silverman holds both position as head of Big Ten Network & FOX Sports. I needed to explain all of this to give context to what BTM just told us Saturday night.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
FOX Sports gave a massive contract to Big Ten Network for Tier 1&2 content + CCG + Basketball..etc. The TV AD rates FOX Sports have been able to pass on to its customers..well... FOX Sports is all in on Big Ten Live Sport Content now and into the future. ALL IN.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
FOX Sports & Big Ten want more. Working in tandem they want more. They believe there is an opportunity to gain more content for next Media contract for both to succeed in tandem. Realignment begins with FOX Sports & Big Ten in their attempt to gain more value.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
According to BTM the Big Ten Conference will make Oklahoma & Texas their main targets for expansion for 2024/2025. Both of them. Yes, Texas. Let me explain as best I can what BTM told us on Saturday night.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
There is so much to discuss. It would be easier and cleaner if I could do it on a podcast. But I will give it my best shot here on Twitter. BTM went into great detail. Tremendous detail.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
First, let’s discuss why Big Ten believes their is an opportunity to add Oklahoma & Texas in 2024 & 2025. It starts with the Big 12 Conference.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Choke points. Choke points to successfully deliver live content comes in 3 different forms. 1) Financing 2) Content 3) Distribution Big 12 does not have a Content issue, nor a Financing issue. But it will have a distribution issue in 2024.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
The same reasons why Big 12 could not get an interested distributor in a Conference Network(with or without Texas) is the same reason they won’t get near the same contract for Tier 1&2 Content in their next negotiations compared to SEC & Big Ten. The money gap grows even larger

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
This is what Big Ten plans to do...already doing. Big Ten Conference, in tandem with FOX Sports, will/have made it known to Oklahoma what their intentions are through 3rd parties. Oklahoma is soon to be negotiationing (with who is unknown at this time) a new 3rd Tier Contract

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Big Ten Conference wanted to get out in front of Oklahoma...show them what’s at stake when negotiationing their 3rd Tier Contract. In other words...make it a short term contract Oklahoma because we are willing to make it worthwhile.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Big Ten could not wait to make their intentions known. Big Ten could not wait for 2-3 more years to make plans and act on them. They needed to give OU a road map. And secure place to land once Big 12 GOR is up.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Before I get on to Texas. Let me explain the words Delany expressed today. It was told to us on Saturday night..sure enough..well. Big Ten & ACC will try to push P5 reforms through to make it possible to eliminate Round Robin play in 1 Conference. Let me explain.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Today it’s impossible for SEC, Big Ten, ACC & PAC to lump all their schools into just 1 big division/conference because they would need to play round robin schedule. Delany will push for this reform.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
In public Delany and the Big Ten profess to still support divisions. But in private they would encourage the ability for a conference to line up all of their 12-14-16 schools in one division/conference in Football Conference play. But it’s for reasons you might not think of..

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Yes, in theory securing “2 best teams” in CCG after Conference play would enhance your Conference ability to gain a spot in College Football Playoffs. But it’s more than..much more than CFP significance.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
1) If Big Ten was allowed to have all their schools in 1 Division/Conference with no Round Robin rule it would increase their value to TV/Media even more than it is now. I’m going to get back to this point. 2) Expansion of Conference..expanding value of Conference much easier

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Why Texas now? For those of you who have followed BTM over the years and seen him break the news of Notre Dame Hockey to Big Ten..Fleck to Minnesota..etc.. You know he has always stated Texas will not be the target for Big Ten. Things have changed.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Let’s first take it from the perspective of Big Ten Conference. It’s obvious why Big Ten would want Texas. We are not going to waste time discussing the why..but let’s discuss why Big Ten believes they have an opportunity for Texas to actually say yes.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Texas’s options are incredibly limited if you are to believe Oklahoma will leave the Big 12 after 2025. BTM have stated many times it’s the belief of those within the Big Ten and other P5 programs that Oklahoma will leave Big 12 after 2025.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Playing Football as an Independent is pretty much is impossible for Texas. Scheduling...and yes, distribution reasons are the major road blocks. Everyone in Texas Leadership will tell you the same thing.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
PAC is not a viable option for those in Texas’s leadership. Texas has studied this option for years. For them, above all else, they don’t want to travel West for all their Athletic Programs. Travel is a roadblock much more than PAC’s current issues.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
SEC is not seen as a viable option for Texas. Boosters & Faculty of the University of Texas would revolt. Texas is not following Texas A&M to SEC. This is Big Ten perspective.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Now for the last road block LHN...owner by Disney. According to BTM this road block is no more. Nobody now takes this as a serious road block if Texas wants to make a move. There is a contract until 2031 buts it’s not ironclad like the Big 12 GOR of 2025.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
If LHN had any truly significant money value to Disney it would be a different story. But LHN is a losing proposition to Disney..and loser to Texas for exposure. LHN is no longer a log in the road..merely a twig (BTM words)

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
TV Media Contract which Big Ten could say to potential distributor (FOX Sports + Amazon?..CBS?) you will have Ohio State play Texas at least 2 times in 4 years..OU play Penn State 2 times in 4 years..(1 Conference - no Round Robin) Is Delany’s goal.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Now..will Oklahoma and Texas choose to realign themselves into the Big Ten Conference in 2024/2025? We don’t know. But for the first time BTM has information which leads him to an undeniable truth. Oklahoma & Texas are the targets. Yes, Texas

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
It’s not going to take long to figure out where this is all going. Watch Oklahoma. Watch them. When Oklahoma signs new 3rd Tier Contract and if it’s short term...does not take them past year 2025... Brace for impact.

shoobie doobie doowah‏ @Expansion_Crush 4h4 hours ago
Texas and Oklahoma will be a package deal

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Replying to @Expansion_Crush
I never though we would get to this point. Never. But here we are.

shoobie doobie doowah‏ @Expansion_Crush 3h3 hours ago
Replying to @flugempire
Thanks for the detailed update! What do you think Texas's price is? 60 to 70 million a year?

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 3h3 hours ago
Real number will be... This is what you get for 1/2 of Big Ten Tier 1/2 package with FOX Sports (2nd half would be matched by FOX Sports or ESPN or ...etc) + BTN $ vs what you think/hope you will get with ? after Big 12 GOR is up and Big 12 negotiating with ?+? Gap will be real.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
If you need something tangible to sink your teeth into when trying to figure out if Big Ten is really planning on being aggressive in next Media negotiations/Realignment..just look at the end date of last contract. 2022.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Remember back at last Big Ten Media negotiations when out of nowhere FOX Sports got 1/2 of Big Ten Tier 1&2 Contract..gave Big Ten massive deal? Why did Big Ten want deal to end 2022? Why not have contract go to 2028?..2030?..when in uncertain times of live media distribution?

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 3h3 hours ago
Positioning. By 2022 Big Ten and their partner FOX Sports will know the Realignment landscape (wants and needs of Oklahoma & Texas) enough to be able to act and give best effort to land both before Big 12 GOR ends in June 30th, 2025.

Kirk Richardson‏ @kirksreview 4h4 hours ago
Did BTM talk about whether B1G thinks Oklahoma is leaning one way or the other in 2025 - B1G, SEC, staying B12. Logic tells me they will align a short-term 3rd tier contract regardless. Gives them max flexibility. Thoughts?

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 4h4 hours ago
Replying to @kirksreview
SEC is the competition for Oklahoma. According to BTM Oklahoma will leave Big 12. SEC option is viable according to Big Ten perspective. It’s another reason why Texas is being targeted by Big Ten because Big Ten perspective is SEC is not an option for Texas.

MJ‏ @MinnySeminole 2h2 hours ago
MJ Retweeted Greg Flugaur

This isn’t possible without Tech or OSU partnered up w Texas and OU respectively per most recent state legislatures

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Replying to @MinnySeminole
It’s the Big 12 GOR and bylaws which keeps Texas & Oklahoma in Big 12,not legislators of both respective states. Once GOR has run out the decision makers of both universities, BOR & Presidents, will have the ability to make a choice without running to Legislators for go ahead.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 2h2 hours ago
Replying to @MinnySeminole
State Legislators will have influence, and will flex them just as boosters. But both Universities have autonomy to decide its Athletic Contracts..which Conference Affiliation is basically your biggest one of them all.

Kirk Richardson‏ @kirksreview 1h1 hour ago
Texas will have a more difficult path navigating in-state politics than Oklahoma. Not saying a move to B1G can't/won't happen, but there are a lot of interests at stake that ride UT's coattails. Ultimately, they may have to stay and lead a new B12 w/o Oklahoma. It's complicated.

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 1h1 hour ago
Replying to @kirksreview @MinnySeminole
It’s is complicated. Made a little easier with Texas A&M departure of Big 12 against wishes of legislators in Austin who were Pro University of Texas & Texas Tech. But yes, it’s complicated. OU’s current President does not have the “ ties that bind” with OSU. Again, complicated.

Andy‏ @ABfromthe513 1h1 hour ago
Fox is invested in B12 currently. Presumably their B12 deal will be or close to expiring if okla and Texas are flipping to B10? Or would fox work with B12 to identify backfill candidates to fill okla and Texas spots?

Greg Flugaur‏ @flugempire 1h1 hour ago
Replying to @ABfromthe513
Not sure what FOX would do if/when OU & UT depart for Big Ten. But FOX will let (if they haven’t already in some manner) OU & UT know that Big Ten for 2023 and beyond will get FOX Sports Tier 1/2 offer >>>> FOX Sports offer for Big 12 Tier 1/2 content beyond 2025 Big 12 GOR.

The new thing right now is the possibility of doing away with divisions altogether. What and how that would be done is unknown as of this time. Having no division might make the transition a little easier. It would also make a KU/OU pairing much easier as well. Travel is what it is.

Previous to last tweet makes a good point: what happens then to the Big 12? Could they reload and still have a seat at the CFP table? I would think that would help ease any upward pressure from the G5 if they can elevate a few from that group. Think UCF, Cincinnati, Connecticut, BYU or Houston.

What I'm having trouble figuring out is how FOX might pull something like this off when they've sold away most of their assets to be less burdened.