***Official Big 12 Expansion Thread '16***

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 47m47 minutes ago
When discussing any UT B1G rumor remember that ESPN has an option on UT rights that matches length of LHN contract.

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 48m48 minutes ago
Why would ESPN allow UT to move to the B1G when Fox is the primary rights holder. ESPN has a secondary contract.

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 47m47 minutes ago
Not only would such a move devalue the Big 12 it would also harm ESPN.

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 37m37 minutes ago
Also note that UT is prohibited from being a part of any other network (other than LHN).

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 35m35 minutes ago
"Neither IMG nor UT will during the Term... participate or similar network enterprise (regardless of name) related to UT"

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 35m35 minutes ago
What that means is that Texas cannot participate in any conference network until the LHN deal has expired.

Christopher Lambert ‏@theDudeofWV 27m27 minutes ago
An ESPN contact gave me the info on the LHN contract. The takeaway is that ESPN wants the Big 12 intact.

A minor correction. ESPN wants UT in an ESPN controlled conference. That means the ACC is in play. I don't know if SEC's CBS deal would keep ESPN from agreeing to dropping the LHN deals, but that may be a possible destination for them.

But it does make sense of the rumors about UT getting a new conference together. If they can't move to the PAC or Big10 until well after the Big12s GOR expires, they definitely have reason to keep a viable conference together.
 
A minor correction. ESPN wants UT in an ESPN controlled conference. That means the ACC is in play. I don't know if SEC's CBS deal would keep ESPN from agreeing to dropping the LHN deals, but that may be a possible destination for them.

But it does make sense of the rumors about UT getting a new conference together. If they can't move to the PAC or Big10 until well after the Big12s GOR expires, they definitely have reason to keep a viable conference together.

Seems to me if the ACC or SEC want Texas bad enough, they will make an accomodation to allow Texas to keep the LHN through 2031. Especially if Texas receives discounted TV rights share the first 4-5 years. ESPN shouldn't mind as the operate the SEC and proposed ACC Network.

IMO unless the Big12 can attract other P5 schools for current expansion, realignment is dead until around 2022.
 
As a long time ISU fan I remain very concerned for the future of where ISU will be...but I hope and have to think that if the big 12 falls apart and there isn't a Power conf in the middle of the country so to speak...I would think that the networks would lose a lot of content wouldn't they...?
 
As a long time ISU fan I remain very concerned for the future of where ISU will be...but I hope and have to think that if the big 12 falls apart and there isn't a Power conf in the middle of the country so to speak...I would think that the networks would lose a lot of content wouldn't they...?

No, not really.
 
As a long time ISU fan I remain very concerned for the future of where ISU will be...but I hope and have to think that if the big 12 falls apart and there isn't a Power conf in the middle of the country so to speak...I would think that the networks would lose a lot of content wouldn't they...?
If the big 12 disappeared the only states in the middle that don't have a Power conference team would be Kansas and Oklahoma. Both OU and KU could find homes so they wouldn't lose any content.

On a side note I won't be surprised if in the future when all this bundling and cord cutting is over I think there will be more than 5 power conferences and conferences will be tied to geography.
 
  • Agree
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I can't see Texas being too fired up about playing all their games in the upper Midwest or east coast so I just don't see the B1G as an option.

I think pairing up with ND in the ACC is much more viable. The ACC has pretty good academics (better than SEC or B12), great basketball and very good football.
 
The Dude has spoken. Take it for what it's worth.

Took me a minute to realize that Christopher Lambert was The Dude's human name. I was wondering why the Highlander was tweeting about the Big 12.

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  • Funny
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If the big 12 disappeared the only states in the middle that don't have a Power conference team would be Kansas and Oklahoma. Both OU and KU could find homes so they wouldn't lose any content.

On a side note I won't be surprised if in the future when all this bundling and cord cutting is over I think there will be more than 5 power conferences and conferences will be tied to geography.
Couldn't agree more.
 
If the big 12 disappeared the only states in the middle that don't have a Power conference team would be Kansas and Oklahoma. Both OU and KU could find homes so they wouldn't lose any content.

On a side note I won't be surprised if in the future when all this bundling and cord cutting is over I think there will be more than 5 power conferences and conferences will be tied to geography.

UConn, Cincy and USF are the teams that have been officially demoted from BCS level (or whatever you want to call it) so far. ISU and KSU are the next most likely, followed by Baylor, TCU and Tech.

ISU and KSU a little different than those other six in that they've been a part of what is considered a major football conference for somewhere around a century.
 
The Dude has spoken. Take it for what it's worth.
There is nothing in his tweets that can be disputed IMO. While ESPN may be losing money on LHN, the key for ESPN is control of UT through 2032. If UT intends to leave the B12, their only viable option is the ESPN-controlled ACC, they will not follow aggy to the SEC.
 
I think we are going to hear "no immediate expansion planned but not ruling out future expansion with a quality fit for the Big 12 conference"
 
  • Agree
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