quote:LOL. Bigggggg problem with that. Fox and ESPN rarely agree on what is best for both networks, because they almost never are. Fox and ESPN are temporarily aligned against the Big XII adding crap programs and the shakedown in conference revenues that are due under the existing contracts, but other than that singular instance, no.
A&M is in the best case scenario and right now is the time we need to build our brand while BDF suffers and loses tv$ and recruits. At some point our favorable position will change. There is too much $ at stake and lots of TX talent to go around. I figure it will happen down the road a ways while tu continues to collect LHN revenue. At some point, B1G will probably go against their "code" and pay tu/ou up to 100% and guarantee tu gets compensated for the loss of the LHN, add non-contiguous states, and a non-AAU school in ou. Too much long term revenue at stake not to.
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Boren's public comments on Sept. 14 that expansion is "not a sure thing" are perceived around the league as the manifestation of his reversal on the issue. They also reinforced the notion that Boren's inability to resist commenting publicly is further damaging the league. Boren has now gone full flip-flop from his "psychologically disadvantaged" comments 18 months ago, and it has drummed up a distinct wave of anger around the league. As one Big 12 source said this weekend: "Let's talk about the strength of the league instead of talking about being at a psychological disadvantage. We're psychologically insecure. That's what we are. And for no reason."
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Fittingly, it appears Boren's damaging comments to the Big 12 came in part because he has trouble in his own backyard. Oklahoma's Board of Regents is not in favor of Big 12 expansion, and it appears to be putting an increasing amount of pressure on Boren to convey that message. This could seriously gum up the league's expansion plans.
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With eight of 10 votes needed to add schools, there's an increasing expectation that Oklahoma won't be voting in favor of expansion.
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The next time Boren speaks, a lot of his colleagues around the Big 12 would enjoy hearing exactly what the Sooners' long-term intentions are.
There's an increasing concern that Boren could end up as a so-called double-agent, speaking for the league but working for a school that ultimately desires to speak with other leagues. There's also an increasing level of distrust around the league, especially since Oklahoma and Texas have no intention of extending their grant of right past 2025 anytime soon.
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There's little momentum to add four schools. So for now, Houston and Cincinnati are still the perceived leaders behind the scenes. Both of them have what insiders are terming "neighborhood problems." Houston is in the odd position where many schools in the Big 12 don't really want to add it but are increasingly realizing they probably need to.
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Around the industry, the next wave of conference realignment is expected to be tied to the expiration of the Big Ten's television contract in 2023. A cursory study of major realignment moves reveals that most are triggered in concert with major conference TV deals expiring. That's when leagues attempt to make themselves more attractive when they go to market.
The Big 12 schools are bound to each other through a Grant of Rights through 2025. While that's a long way away, the Big Ten could make a run at Texas for its next deal.
Texas has all the cards here and would be courted by any league. Institutionally, the school has shown little desire to go to the SEC. (Why join Texas A&M?) The Big Ten could be a fit, as would the ACC and Pac-12. The ACC would likely offer the smoothest transition for the Longhorn Network, as ESPN owns all of the ACC's content and the easiest solution for everyone would be to fold LHN, a partnership between ESPN and Texas, into the ACC Network.
Oklahoma has fewer options. The Big Ten would frown on its academics. The SEC would likely be intrigued by Oklahoma, but not if it has to take Oklahoma State. The Pac-12 showed a willingness to take both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State back in 2011, so that's a potential answer. (Especially if Texas politics force Texas to take Texas Tech, too.) But with the Pac-12 Network considered a financial failure so far, is that option still as alluring?
quote:Theoretically, at least, I disagree. There is one scenario where I could see the BDF limping along, missing a limb or two, and that would be if the BDF expanded to 14, now, and Texas and OU were to go to the Big Ten at the end of the GOR. They would be leaving behind a 12 team conference that, although taking a sizeable cut in TV revenue, still would probably be exponentially more attractive than any non-Power 4 conference. So long as they were included in the CFP bowl contracts, it would still be a viable league. Those schools would never compete, financially, with the schools in the SEC and the Big Ten, but they wouldn't have to.
tu and ou are like the anchor stores in the mall. They cannot be replaced. There is no "life after tu and ou leave."
The only way any of the dwarves could hope to stay relevant would be to dump every sport besides football, hoops, and 97 scholarships worth of women's sports. They would have to become like Fresno or Boise and go play and win road guarantee games. In other words, purgatory with little chance of redemption.
Their only play will be to appeasement at the next round of contract negotiations, or to get the TX and OK politicians involved.
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T. Boone Pickens said he likes the current 10-team Big 12 configuration the way it is and would prefer adding Houston and SMU if the league grows, but that's "probably unlikely." The Oklahoma State benefactor said on our "On Second Thought" podcast that Oklahoma president David Boren has been wishy-washy about expansion and that "maybe it's time for David to retire." Some outlets reported Tuesday that the mercurial Boren is saying he's decided against expansion, but Boren clarified his stance, saying "Oklahoma has not yet taken a position on expansion." Pickens, who has given $500 million to his alma mater, said, "I've known David forever. He likes to talk. He gets a little bit confused sometimes."
Pickens said he and Cowboys coach Mike Gundy aren't talking. "I don't have any conversations with Gundy," he said. Is there a rift? "I don't know, but Mike doesn't handle people relationships very well. And he gets mad about things. I've heard he's written some notes about me that weren't very complimentary."
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T. Boone Pickens said he likes the current 10-team Big 12 configuration the way it is and would prefer adding Houston and SMU if the league grows, but that's "probably unlikely." The Oklahoma State benefactor said on our "On Second Thought" podcast that Oklahoma president David Boren has been wishy-washy about expansion and that "maybe it's time for David to retire." Some outlets reported Tuesday that the mercurial Boren is saying he's decided against expansion, but Boren clarified his stance, saying "Oklahoma has not yet taken a position on expansion." Pickens, who has given $500 million to his alma mater, said, "I've known David forever. He likes to talk. He gets a little bit confused sometimes."
Pickens said he and Cowboys coach Mike Gundy aren't talking. "I don't have any conversations with Gundy," he said. Is there a rift? "I don't know, but Mike doesn't handle people relationships very well. And he gets mad about things. I've heard he's written some notes about me that weren't very complimentary."
quote:That's Alleva's cue. Call Saban, Meyer, Fisher, Herman and have fun. Then call Gundy. He'll go to LSU.
Pickens said he and Cowboys coach Mike Gundy aren't talking. "I don't have any conversations with Gundy," he said. Is there a rift? "I don't know, but Mike doesn't handle people relationships very well. And he gets mad about things. I've heard he's written some notes about me that weren't very complimentary."
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There is one scenario where I could see the BDF limping along, missing a limb or two, and that would be if the BDF expanded to 14, now, and Texas and OU were to go to the Big Ten at the end of the GOR. They would be leaving behind a 12 team conference that, although taking a sizeable cut in TV revenue, still would probably be exponentially more attractive than any non-Power 4 conference. So long as they were included in the CFP bowl contracts, it would still be a viable league. Those schools would never compete, financially, with the schools in the SEC and the Big Ten, but they wouldn't have to.
