(07-23-2021 01:12 PM)Statefan Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 01:09 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 01:05 PM)Statefan Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 12:15 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 11:56 AM)Mav Wrote:  Nah, shet like that caused the Big 12 to break up the first time. If it was just A&M saying these things it'd be one thing, but anyone that's paid more than a little attention to Texas and isn't looking at the program with homer goggles knows how they operate.

A&M and some of you are barking up the wrong tree this time. This has ESPN/Disney written all over it.

Who was it that used Dodds in 2010 to try to snake the best B12 product away from FOX before GOR's? Who was it that tethered the cow with the cash drain LHN? Who was it that encouraged the partial deal with ND and the ACC? Who was it that required the SEC to add 2 "new" markets to its footprint to destabilize the B12 so UT and OU would move to ESPN in 2012?

The master crafter here is behind the scenes pulling strings.

Texas and the SEC didn't dream this up. ESPN has wanted full control of Texas and Oklahoma's product for a long time and the new SEC contract was the way to get it. As to A&M being in the dark I call hooey. For talks and action to get this far all presidents knew.

I also strongly suspect that if Vandy drops out due to cost rise in athletics or need of space for research that Tech may yet come into play and if Missouri is committed maybe Kansas since ESPN has interest in them as well. But we are still a year or two away from any of that.

This is an ESPN coup of 45% or more of FOX interest in UT and OU.

I'm still amazed that so many think it is the school or conferences doing this when money is the motivator and networks hold the purse strings. This is corporate for profit business and conferences and teams are pieces on the chess board. I'll call this one the Bevo gambit!

I suspect ESPN also looks at it that they can flip and shuffle any of their soon to be 31.5 properties as it benefits them most.

There will be a winnowing before things settle into final form. It's likely to be grouped by value.

I wonder if ESPN is planning to take the lead on a 2nd Tier of schools using pushes and pulls? A second tier gives ESPN a playoff to promote and to populate their bowls - something more than FCS but not Bama and OU, except in OOC games.

I'd say very likely. And for another reason. If you bring together 6 or 7 left behind B12 schools, 4 - 6 left behind PAC schools and any left behind ACC schools ESPN still dominates the SE & SW with the SEC and steals into all other markets except for the heart of the Northern Midwest. If Vandy leaves and ESPN truly wants a backdoor into the Northern Midwest Notre Dame could become the SEC's FOI private and get smashingly paid for it. The rest form a new conference that is included and pays 45 million each. That's more than any PAC or B12 or ACC school currently makes. No damages, no lawsuits, and oodles of marketable T2 and T3 material. I have a sneaking suspicion ESPN has bought out CBS's remaining SEC years after this one and that CBS agreed for a certain number of games to televise across ESPN holdings.

So FOX winds up with one super conference, the B1G + best of the PAC. They will make a huge play for ND. ESPN will have to consider a counter.

ESPN winds up with 2 large conferences: Super Conference SEC with four more and the dominant widespread and decently paid new T2/T3 conference which will send teams to the CFP and will have bowl contracts.

ND is the next major jewel to watch.