Texas, the LHN, and ESPN
Let me speculate, as I tend to do, on how ESPN will use the LHN in the future.
Right now, there are too many players in the Big 12 that won't allow UT to fully take advantage of the LHN. Schools like OU would never want their product broadcast on the channel of a rival rather than a league-wide channel and for good reason.
So let's remove some of these players from the picture. Let's say...
SEC takes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State = 16
B1G takes Kansas and UConn = 16
ACC takes Notre Dame and Cincinnati = 16
What do UT and ESPN do next? Obviously, ESPN would rather just add UT to one of the leagues they own, but is UT ready to break down and play nice?
I doubt ESPN simply phases out the LHN so they need content for it one way or the other. A yet weaker Big 12 with a few new vassals would, in theory, allow UT to take advantage and start broadcasting a number of league games on their network. At that point, UT fans start to become disinterested in the schedule though and donors will make noise.
So what do they do?
Texas is probably better off in the SEC, but will their pride keep them out? They could go to the ACC, but probably couldn't bring a number of local schools with them which are the ones they want to play. They could go West, but ESPN probably doesn't allow that and they'd be completely cut off from major rivals like A&M, OU, and Arkansas at that point. Same thing for the B1G.
You always follow the money so the question is what makes the most money for all involved parties?
Part of me thinks the simplest thing for everyone is a merger between the Big 12 and SEC although I know that's outlandish. Another part of me thinks splitting the Big 12 between the SEC and ACC is still best for ESPN so they retain the greater amount of content.
For example, I was flipping through the channels today looking for what basketball games were on and I realized just how many networks ESPN is operating with while competing against FOX, NBC, and CBS. They need content, they need both prime events and filler. That's all of them, not just ESPN although obviously NBC and CBS are behind when it comes to college sports.
Which brings me back to ESPN's commitment to the LHN(which I don't have) and their new commitment to an ACC Network.
So how about this...and this is purely a suggestion...
ESPN finally breaks up the Big 12 to store products in both the SEC and ACC. They also change the format of the LHN and create a hybrid channel. The hybrid channel is committed to showing crossover content between the SEC and ACC. The two leagues split the profits along with ESPN getting their share obviously and the channel should have a broad appeal across markets in both footprints. It wouldn't cost as much obviously, but it would be more marketable than an LHN on a national scale.
In order to make it work, the SEC makes a few sacrifices. As we know, the SEC contains primarily state flagships and with rare exception the most popular program in its state. The ACC maintains a large number of second favorites while only ruling NC and VA. That and they've got the most private schools of any league. So the ACC still needs an economic boost and a football brand boost while the SEC is just printing money at this point.
So...
ACC takes Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Kansas State. Of course, Notre Dame finally goes all in as well.
The SEC is, however, in desperate need of basketball content so the moves make themselves.
SEC takes TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia, and UConn
The crossover channel...call it ESPN Rivals or something like that...will be used to show exclusively SEC/ACC match-ups and the kicker is that the way you set the two leagues up, there should be plenty of opportunity for rivals to get together in a variety of sports. See what I did there?
I believe already that the SEC and ACC will schedule a larger number of crossover games in the near future for the pure purpose of maximizing ESPN content in-house. This just takes that concept to another level.
Set up the divisions like this....
SEC:
West: Texas A&M, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri
North: TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia
South: Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
East: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, UConn
ACC:
West: Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State
North: Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Miami
South: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, NC State, Wake Forest
East: Notre Dame, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke
This way...the ACC is fully stabilized, none of the Big 12 schools have to be left out, and the LHN is converted into an economical alternative that should help everybody.
Thoughts?
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