[College Football] Big Ten, Texas have initial talks

what do you think about the rumor that the pac-10 was fighting back on tech? i can see how that would make ut reconsider.

 

Espn changes headline:

Texas considering Big 12 deal

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5285680

The Texas Longhorns, based on a TV deal in the works that could pay them upwards of $25 million per year, are leaning toward staying in a 10-team Big 12 for the foreseeable future, Orangebloods.com has reported, citing sources familiar with negotiations.

Texas was meeting Monday with the other remaining nine schools in the Big 12 about a TV deal included in a plan put together by Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe that would keep the league intact with its current programs, according to multiple reports.

Millions of Reasons

Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma would each receive at least $20 million annually from a new Big 12 TV contract, according to a report, comparable with what the top conference deals pay now.
BCS conference Amount of contract
Big Ten $242 million
SEC $205 million
Big 12 $78 million
ACC $67 million
Pacific-10 $58 million
Big East $33 million

Texas stands to earn between $20 million and $25 million annually in television revenue, including money from its own network, in the reworked deal, according to Orangebloods.com.

The Longhorns network figures to generate between $3 million and $5 million, according to the report. Because the Big 12 has unequal revenue sharing, the deal will mean more money for Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, who all would receive at least $20 million annually from the new deal.

The other seven schools in the Big 12 would make between $14 million and $17 million, doubling what they currently receive in TV revenue.

Earlier Monday, ESPN reported that the departure of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Pac-10 was "imminent," citing four sources within the Big 12.

The report said that Texas' interest in being aligned with the research opportunities and academic missions of Pac-10 schools is driving the decision, along with money.

But a source within the Big 12 told ESPN's Joe Schad that Texas president William Powers Jr. was working through Beebe's projections to determine if they compare financially with a proposal by Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott.

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Part of those projections would likely include "adjustments" from television partners as well as future contracts that were more on par with the contracts of other conferences, the source said.

Earlier Monday, a source told Schad that Powers was taking a "global view" of the landscape, excited about the importance of aligning his school with research opportunities and academic reputations of schools in the Pac-10.

But clearly being able to come at least close to the Pac-10 financial projections, while being able to still launch a network, may have swayed Powers to change his mind. The source within the Big 12 said Beebe's plan was "gaining traction" with Powers.

 

I think you are dismissing two important factors, control and relative standing. I think UT feels it is in more control of its own destiny in the Big 12. Also, UT is the big dog in the Big 12 in a lot of things. The UT Brand may suffer if it is seen as just another PAC 10 school. Also, UT would be dealing from weakness right now as it is seen that they have to make a move. UT may get a better deal from the PAC 10 if they can make the Big 12 survival a possibility.

 

Here is the deal - if the Big 12 is giving teams the option to pursue their own network (to appease UT), wont this help attract another legit team, and other sexy teams to the Big 12? Like BIG time teams.

 

what big time team is gonna leave their conference, no Big 10 team is leaving their contract, the only viable team is Ark. aside from my rant on the term "rivalry" yesterday, I actually like that option a lot. Maybe not a big time tv market, but you do get the whole state, and I think being in the conference could help them again. They left the SWC for big time comp, they got more than they could handle

 

Arkansas wouldn't come for that TV contract aspect though, they can't support their own network like UT can. Like... it'd have to be a big school, one of epic proportions.

 

maybe a school that is told they can keep their current tv deal?

 

If all that has come out today is true, this is the most disappointing outcome of all. The potential shift towards these "super-conferences" really would have helped build up steam towards a playoff system down the road, but now it looks like we'll again be stuck with the same broken system.

Plus, having let two teams jet from the conference within a couple of days of each other, now Dan Beebe is supposed to be trusted to keep the Big 12 stable and on par with the other major conferences? What happens if the Big 10 comes calling again and Missouri leaves?

It's just a very underwhelming result and I almost hope that A&M makes a last second decision to go to the SEC instead to keep this Big 12-2 conference from staying together.

 

Like who? I'm having trouble thinking of big schools (who could support their own network) that would leave their respective conferences for the Big 12.

 

I wish A&M would go to SEC as well and throw another wrench into this plan. I do not like the keeping the Big 12 (now 10) alive.

At least it made for a fun few weeks during the summer.

 

Me too. Which is why I asked if it would be a draw. How big of a deal is it? Texas seems to think its huge. So I imagine it could help lure a big dog.

 

Today:

Bad for football fans.

Good for the BCS douches.

Good for the University of Texas bank account.

Bummer...

 

It is all about the bloody money. Alignments based on research opportunities or academic reputations are all bs ...

 

I don't think there are many or any other schools that want their own network.
It's a huge risk considering the potential profits vs. the given costs.

Who other than Teasip parents would pay to watch volleyball and softball?

 

If true, I think it would have some merit. I still think Texas would be stupid to ignore it, but it does change the equation some. I find it hard to believe though. The Pac10 commish flew out there, I believe. He knew things were already politically dicey in Texas, and I can't imagine he'd throw another wrench into things this late in the process. If true, he just threw away everything he was working for. But who knows anymore.

 

If anything A&M is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It looks like the SEC won't give an invite to A&M unless the Pac-16 is official and Texas is pretty much telling A&M to make their move.

Either way, Texas comes out on top whatever the outcome.

 

Man, it's hard to keep track of developments! So if Texas and A&M stay in the Big 12, it'll be short 2 teams? Why not invite Arkansas and the University of Houston? Does that make too much sense? It sounds good to me.

 

It's also a stupid idea. The B10 network (or Pac16 Network) works because you have enough programming between 10-16 schools to have good stuff on. What, exactly, is the UT Network going to show? The vast majority of football games will be on network TV, as will all the major basketball games. So you have maybe 1-2 crap football games each year, a bunch of basketball games, and then tennis? Volleyball? Who's going to watch this thing?

Maybe they'll just show the 2004 & 2005 Rose Bowls over and over again.

 

UH brings nothing extra to the conference - and all the current members would have to share money with them, so there's no point. From a simple stability stnadpoint, I don't see why Arkansas leaves its cush spot in the SEC. There are fundamental problems with the structure of the B12 - it's not coincidence that it's the one being raided, nor is it coincidence that Mizzou, Colorado, and Nebraska were all looking to get out from the starrt. Those problems will continue, which means 10 years from now, we probably have another implosion like this again when more schools get tired of the preference given to Texas, OU, and A&M and see a way out.

 

I agree after all this the last thing I want is for the big 12(10) to stay alive.