Conzano spinning this as a defensive move by the Big12 to protect against a raid by the PAC10.
His daily realignment fiction piece for your enjoyment.
Canzano: ESPN and FOX have to love the Big 12 vs. Pac-12 drama
Big 12 opens "discussions" with media partners.www.johncanzano.com
EXACTLY! Trading OU and UT's early exit to guarantee we are the #3 conference going forward is a deal you make 11/10 timesInteresting. Perhaps ESPN is willing to up the ante in getting OUT into the SEC for the 2024 season.
I'd trade 1-2 years of OUT for a sweetheart deal with ESPN and 4-6 PAC teams. That would pretty much solidify the B12 as the #3 conference. Even if OR and WA eventually get their P2 invite, I'm fine with them for a couple of years so long as it's clear they're not getting any special considerations.
CBS and NBC are in the mix now also. ESPN has several channels they need to fill. While the B12 doesn't have any giant names, they do have some well known names. Throw in a wide array of timeslots available and it becomes somewhat attractive.
ESPN wants OuT.
Fox wants ??? (2-4 Pac teams into the B1G??)
Big12 wants cash.
If ESPN is willing to pay "market" plus some extra to get OuT rights, and Fox is willing to pay "market" (per team) for the Big12 with 4 more Pac schools... that seems like the outline. Fox would also be in the position to know which schools they actually want in the B1G and thus which ones we would get in the Big12 too, so less guesswork there.
That’s got to scare the crap out of Oregon State and Washington State. They are not gonna move the needle off the peg one bit.This is probably the best news possible for the B12 to reel in some PAC teams and solidify itself as the #3 conference.
The PAC schools are going to get a side-by-side look of continuing in the PAC or jumping to the B12. I think this will stress the PAC. Either the corner schools will see the PAC has no future when the B10 comes back for a few more schools, or OR/WA decide they can best position themselves to move to the P2 from the B12.
Either way, getting just one school to cave will open the floodgates. The PAC can't continue with 8 or 9 teams, and getting back to 10 is just puts them further behind. Each school that leaves puts the PAC further behind, which makes the decision to move all the more attractive.
The PAC 12 lost their two premier programs, and the two premier programs of what is left don't want to be there either without unequal revenue sharing. That's far from equal footing. They are in survival mode, while the Big 12 is in expansion mode.It could be that ESPN/Fox are moving on from Pac12, but I doubt it.
IMO it puts the Big12 & Pac12 on equal footing. It allows all 4 parties equal negotiating position.
It could enable ESPN/Fox to negotiate separately with each conference and pair the Big12 vs Pac12. Whichever conference accepts the best (lowest $) terms from the Network could get the media deal. But I don't think getting the "best deal" is in either Networks "best interest".
My expectation is by putting both conferences on equal footing, it could allow for creating the strongest combination of Big12/Pac12 schools.
It is also curious the ESPN article mentions by negotiating early, it allows the Big12 to extend it's current agreement. Would that allow the Big12 to leverage it's existing contract pricing go forward.
Could also be the Big12 removed a disadvantage. Seems to me it makes Pac12 & Big12 in equal position from a contract logistics perspective.Big12 isn't opening up negotiations if they don't think this gives them an advantage over the Pac12
Wilner is a moron, Pac 12 cheerleader and is getting owned by all the national media not trying to save the Pac.
If adding just USC & UCLA are difficult adds for Big10 from a travel logistics. Adding just Houston or SMU to the Pac12 is a non-starter.I'm sure this will push Houston to the Pac12, as the Pac12 mouthpieces keep spouting Houston as an expansion option.
Will be funded over time in our tv contract by ESPN.That’s fine, you just gotta pay that exit fee…
Well, based on the new info I stand corrected. Maybe the networks pony up a bigger TV contract in lieu of the OuT buyout. That works. But I’d still like the Clones to have at least 2 more cracks at both of them.I think Texas and OU are here thru the current GOR ending in June 2025. So two more football and basketball seasons after this one. I don’t see them paying a huge penalty to buy out 2 or even 1 year early. Plus ESPN, Sankey from the SEC and OuT got slapped around by the lawyers after they got busted for their covert attempted Big 12 screw job.
It could be that ESPN/Fox are moving on from Pac12, but I doubt it.
IMO it puts the Big12 & Pac12 on equal footing. It allows all 4 parties equal negotiating position.
It could enable ESPN/Fox to negotiate separately with each conference and pair the Big12 vs Pac12. Whichever conference accepts the best (lowest $) terms from the Network could get the media deal. But I don't think getting the "best deal" is in either Networks "best interest".
My expectation is by putting both conferences on equal footing, it could allow for creating the strongest combination of Big12/Pac12 schools.
It is also curious the ESPN article mentions by negotiating early, it allows the Big12 to extend it's current agreement. Would that allow the Big12 to leverage it's existing contract pricing go forward.