OT: Sources: New wrinkle makes Big 12 expansion appear unlikely

[Scarlet_Scourge]

While that’s not a definitive consensus, a new development with the league’s television partners has made not expanding the most likely scenario. Multiple sources indicated there have been discussions with the Big 12’s TV partners to pay the league not to expand. The purpose of the payment would be to eliminate the pro rata clause in the TV contract—which the TV officials consider a loophole—that enables the league to receive nearly $25 million annually for every school it adds. The willingness of ESPN and Fox to discuss paying to eliminate that clause and end future potential expansion drama in upcoming years makes not expanding the most likely conclusion.

“If they put more money up and bought out that pro rata clause, we’ll likely keep ourselves at 10,” speculated a high-ranking Big 12 source.

Read the whole thing here: http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/10/14/big-12-expansion-unlikely

 

[RutgersMO]

You'd think they'd either add two teams....or change their name to the Big Ten (lite).

MO

 

[BoroKnight]

You'd think they'd either add two teams....or change their name to the Big Ten (lite).

MO

Would that make us in the Big Fourteen? Or Big Ten (plus)?

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

You'd think they'd either add two teams....or change their name to the Big Ten (lite).

MO

With BYU unlikely to join, there is no real reason to expand anymore, none of the other schools are worth anything. ESPN and Fox do not want to waste $25 million a year per school for the schools with small fan followings.

People can say, but what about Houston? The second their HC leaves, they will go right back to what they were before. Small low interest school.

Cincy and UConn do not move the needle at all on their own, there is a reason why they were left behind.

Of course The Big12 being a klusterfvk, they can reject Fox and ESPN offer and add those low end schools anyway out of spite but the next TV contract will be doomed as a result. Texas and Ok can leave when the TV contract is up and the Big12 will drop into the group of 6.

 

[BeantownKnight]

A ten-team conference, without a championship, does not belong in the CFP.

 

[PatrickRU92]

I have been saying since the very beginning of the B12's expansion "process" that they are crazy to invite any of the teams other than BYU. None of them add anything of any significance

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Yule-On. LOL.

 

[n1tlion]

With BYU unlikely to join, there is no real reason to expand anymore, none of the other schools are worth anything. ESPN and Fox do not want to waste $25 million a year per school for the schools with small fan followings.

People can say, but what about Houston? The second their HC leaves, they will go right back to what they were before. Small low interest school.

Cincy and UConn do not move the needle at all on their own, there is a reason why they were left behind.

Of course The Big12 being a klusterfvk, they can reject Fox and ESPN offer and add those low end schools anyway out of spite but the next TV contract will be doomed as a result. Texas and Ok can leave when the TV contract is up and the Big12 will drop into the group of 6.

You do realize that University of Houston has well over 40k students right? By no means a SMALL school, it's the third largest university in Texas.

 

[RutgersMO]

Would that make us in the Big Fourteen? Or Big Ten (plus)?

Taking a page from the Unit 4 +2 (60's band):


Suggest we become The B!G 10+

MO

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

You do realize that University of Houston has well over 40k students right? By no means a SMALL school, it's the third largest university in Texas.

I meant football wise of course.

 

[RUJohnny99]

You do realize that University of Houston has well over 40k students right? By no means a SMALL school, it's the third largest university in Texas.

Temple is the second largest school in Pennsylvania & UCF is the largest college in Florida. Enrollment doesn't equal football interest or P5 worthiness.

 

[PSUPOWER]

Temple is the second largest school in Pennsylvania & UCF is the largest college in Florida. Enrollment doesn't equal football interest or P5 worthiness.

BYU and Houston would make the most sense.
South Florida and UCF would be next in line.
But, the BIG 12 isn't expected to expand to 14.

 

[RUBigFrank]

Texas Oklahomas + one other move to Pac12

remainder merges with AAC

 

[ecojew]

The B12 has become something of a joke. It can't seem to get out of its own way. It really should have gone after FSU and Clemson when it had the chance to do so back in 2012 but it failed to do so, possibly - some here might know for sure - because TX dinged the plan. Now those schools are unavailable due to the ACC's GOR and its new network (is that really going to happen?).

Had it acted in 2012, the B12 might well have rendered the ACC as the vulnerable P5 conference. Not acting then and now leaves it as the most vulnerable by far, especially because of its limited geographic footprint, especially outside of the state of TX. It needs more and bigger TV markets. Bringing in the tandem of USF and UCF would go the furthest to accomplish that. Adding Houston doesn't do that at all. And adding BYU brings in too many complications to a league that already enough drama with its chief prima donna.

The schools I feel sorry for in this mess are KU, KState, Iowa State, and, of course, our former BE brethren WVU.

 

[Steve91562]

Not expanding increases the likelihood that Tx and Ok eventually leave. That's how I see it. Not a given, of course, because when it comes to the B12 anything can happen.

 

[krup]

Not expanding increases the likelihood that Tx and Ok eventually leave. That's how I see it. Not a given, of course, because when it comes to the B12 anything can happen.

I don't think it really changes anything. The story is that even if the B12 expanded UT and OU were not willing to extend the GOR. They are like a star player nearing the end of his contract. They want to test the waters to see what is out there in free agency, knowing that they have the fallback of resigning with the home team if it comes to that.

 

[n1tlion]

Temple is the second largest school in Pennsylvania & UCF is the largest college in Florida. Enrollment doesn't equal football interest or P5 worthiness.

I was simply replying to the "small" school reference, not P5 worthiness

 

[PSUPOWER]

Houston College Football TV Market today:
Texas A&M = 30%
Houston = 25%
Texas = 15%
LSU = 10%
Rice = 5%
Baylor = 5%
Other = 10%

By Conference today:
SEC = 40%
AAC = 25%
B12 = 20%

By Conference after adding Houston:
B12 = 45%
SEC = 40%