https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb...024-season

2024 they say. We'll see.

It would seem the only deal left to make is between the Big 12 and ESPN.

I'm sure it has to do with the long term viability of the Big 12.

(06-11-2022 08:29 PM)JRsec Wrote:  https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb...024-season

2024 they say. We'll see.

It was an Austin American Statesman reporter from an anonymous person in the know at UT.

And it was 2024 was the most likely scenario, was how it was phrased.

Given that ESPN takes over the CBS deal in 2024, there's definitely some logic to that date.

Sounds more like very subtle politicking from the UT perspective. The date is more than two years away. The B12 has managed the backfill schools, plus growth to 12 teams, well. OU and UT have both behaved during this transition period. They mention a willingness to pay the exit fees. The B12 just released an impressive total for its recent conference distributions. With all the good news, this might be their best time to put forth an opening position.

The problem is that this may still not be an ideal window to discuss issues with the B12. They still haven’t named their new commissioner. CFP expansion and NCAA governance are huge unknowns. Also, Fox would need concessions for losing rights to OU and UT games…while the B12 is anxiously courting bidders and competitors for a new media deal. Putting expectations and/or pressure on the B12 may backfire.

Possibly the B12 has formally reached-out to ESPN & Fox to discuss modifying the existing media contract for known expansion. BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston are now committed to starting on 7/1/2023…offering lots of new content. UT is hoping that parties don’t disregard their interests (it’s hard for alphas to stay on the sidelines).

(06-11-2022 08:31 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  It would seem the only deal left to make is between the Big 12 and ESPN.

I'm sure it has to do with the long term viability of the Big 12.

Fox as well. They'd have to be willing to give up rights to OU and UT a year early. Posted this on the Big 12 board, but even if the Big 12 and ESPN are kosher with the two schools leaving early, there's a relationship between the Big 12 and Fox as well, and what's it worth to Fox to lose access to those two schools?

(06-12-2022 10:01 AM)cc22 Wrote:  

(06-11-2022 08:31 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  It would seem the only deal left to make is between the Big 12 and ESPN.

I'm sure it has to do with the long term viability of the Big 12.

Fox as well. They'd have to be willing to give up rights to OU and UT a year early. Posted this on the Big 12 board, but even if the Big 12 and ESPN are kosher with the two schools leaving early, there's a relationship between the Big 12 and Fox as well, and what's it worth to Fox to lose access to those two schools?

The Big 10 contracts will start before 2024 and assuming FOX reups and has an expanded presence they might not object much. One rumor is the Big 10 will take over the Big Nooner permanently. Also FOX voluntarily gave up the rights to airing the Big 12 Championship Game after airing it one time.

(06-12-2022 10:11 AM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-12-2022 10:01 AM)cc22 Wrote:  

(06-11-2022 08:31 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  It would seem the only deal left to make is between the Big 12 and ESPN.

I'm sure it has to do with the long term viability of the Big 12.

Fox as well. They'd have to be willing to give up rights to OU and UT a year early. Posted this on the Big 12 board, but even if the Big 12 and ESPN are kosher with the two schools leaving early, there's a relationship between the Big 12 and Fox as well, and what's it worth to Fox to lose access to those two schools?

The Big 10 contracts will start before 2024 and assuming FOX reups and has an expanded presence they might not object much. One rumor is the Big 10 will take over the Big Nooner permanently. Also FOX voluntarily gave up the rights to airing the Big 12 Championship Game after airing it one time.

Oh, I'm not saying it can't or won't happen, but it's most certainly a real factor.

(06-12-2022 10:01 AM)cc22 Wrote:  

(06-11-2022 08:31 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  It would seem the only deal left to make is between the Big 12 and ESPN.

I'm sure it has to do with the long term viability of the Big 12.

Fox as well. They'd have to be willing to give up rights to OU and UT a year early. Posted this on the Big 12 board, but even if the Big 12 and ESPN are kosher with the two schools leaving early, there's a relationship between the Big 12 and Fox as well, and what's it worth to Fox to lose access to those two schools?

The deal to get OU and UT in the SEC for fall 2024 is easy, if the Big 12 is willing to do it without demanding 100 zillion dollars.

1) OU and UT make a reasonable payment, above the contractual exit fee, for leaving one year early. That's r-e-a-s-o-n-a-b-l-e. It's an amount proportionate to leaving one year early, period. (If the remaining Big 12 members are so pissy that they demand OU and UT empty out their athletic departments' entire bank accounts just for one extra year in the SEC, then there is no deal to be made.)

2) The Big 12 doesn't lose any of the TV money on the current contract -- they get the same payments for the last year of the contract from ESPN and Fox that they would have received if OU and UT stayed until the end of the contract.

3) ESPN gives Fox the OU-UT game in 2024, even though both teams will be in the SEC, as compensation for Fox losing a season of OU and UT games in the Big 12.

The Don of Realignment says not until 2025.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/20/231759...until-2025

(06-22-2022 05:59 AM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Don of Realignment says not until 2025.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/20/231759...until-2025

ESPN Chairman seems to be a pretty reliable source.

(06-22-2022 07:26 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 05:59 AM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Don of Realignment says not until 2025.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/20/231759...until-2025

ESPN Chairman seems to be a pretty reliable source.

He didn't lie, and he didn't reveal the truth. That's hard to do, unless you have to maintain a legal stance of plausible deniability in order to avoid legal entanglements, which is SOP in the industry.

(06-22-2022 11:52 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 07:26 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 05:59 AM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Don of Realignment says not until 2025.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/20/231759...until-2025

ESPN Chairman seems to be a pretty reliable source.

He didn't lie, and he didn't reveal the truth. That's hard to do, unless you have to maintain a legal stance of plausible deniability in order to avoid legal entanglements, which is SOP in the industry.

I think he was just saying that ESPN wouldn't pick up the tab for Texas and Oklahoma. But we'll see, I imagine that the rest of the Big 12 when looking at media rights renewal in 2025, may be amenable to "make a deal" and let the pair go cheap.

(06-22-2022 12:17 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 11:52 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 07:26 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 05:59 AM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Don of Realignment says not until 2025.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/20/231759...until-2025

ESPN Chairman seems to be a pretty reliable source.

He didn't lie, and he didn't reveal the truth. That's hard to do, unless you have to maintain a legal stance of plausible deniability in order to avoid legal entanglements, which is SOP in the industry.

I think he was just saying that ESPN wouldn't pick up the tab for Texas and Oklahoma. But we'll see, I imagine that the rest of the Big 12 when looking at media rights renewal in 2025, may be amenable to "make a deal" and let the pair go cheap.

^^^ THIS ^^^