The Big 12 is one step closer to long-term stability with the news Monday that Big 12 presidents have given their approval to the new ESPN deal, which along with a new Fox contract, will deliver some $20 million annually to the member schools through 2025.
CBSSports.com reported the agreement, and just as significant is a change in the grant of rights from six years to 13, the length of the deals. A grant of rights allows the conference to keep the schools’ television rights if it left for a new league.
A source close to the negotiations confirmed to The Star that details remained to be settled.
“I am not aware of an imminent announcement,” Big 12 spokesman Bob Burda said.
But with the conference looking more stable, other issues can be addressed, like expansion.
On a day when the Big East fired Commissioner John Marinatto and musical chairs continues in several conferences, expansion rumors continue to involve the Big 12.
But this time, they’re about prospective schools, not those looking to leave.
Louisville is the most often mentioned expansion target, but would the league add one to stand at 11? Other Big East schools like Cincinnati, Rutgers and Connecticut have been associated with other conferences, but although it’s unwise to assume a lid on expansionism the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 have given no indication of further growth.
The Big 12 is in something of a holding pattern. The new commissioner, Bob Bowlsby, was introduced Friday and won’t take over until June 15. It’s reasonable to believe the Big 12 will idle on this issue while he warms the seat.
While that happens, the rumors will continue to churn. The latest involves Florida State and Clemson in outside-the-box speculation. The reasoning: The Seminoles and Tigers are football-first schools that would be happier in a conference with Texas and Oklahoma than one that just added Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
Bowlsby wasn’t specific about Big 12 expansion possibilities but talked of conferences liked by an “electronic footprint,” as opposed to geographical.
Meaning, expansion can come from anywhere.
The big target would be Notre Dame in an all-in – football included – scenario. The Irish have repeated their desire for football independence but among the issues to be settled with college football headed toward a new postseason is how Notre Dame and Brigham Young, another rumored Big 12 target, would qualify for a playoff.
It might be easier to accomplish with a conference championship.
Notre Dame would be the biggest prize, the addition that would bring the greatest value to any conference.
But even without football, the Big 12 could be Notre Dame’s best spot to park its other sports, including basketball. The Big 12 might be able to offer a football scheduling alignment and access to Big 12 bowl games.
Read more here: http://campuscorner.kansascity.com/node/2633#storylink=cpy
CBSSports.com reported the agreement, and just as significant is a change in the grant of rights from six years to 13, the length of the deals. A grant of rights allows the conference to keep the schools’ television rights if it left for a new league.
A source close to the negotiations confirmed to The Star that details remained to be settled.
“I am not aware of an imminent announcement,” Big 12 spokesman Bob Burda said.
But with the conference looking more stable, other issues can be addressed, like expansion.
On a day when the Big East fired Commissioner John Marinatto and musical chairs continues in several conferences, expansion rumors continue to involve the Big 12.
But this time, they’re about prospective schools, not those looking to leave.
Louisville is the most often mentioned expansion target, but would the league add one to stand at 11? Other Big East schools like Cincinnati, Rutgers and Connecticut have been associated with other conferences, but although it’s unwise to assume a lid on expansionism the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 have given no indication of further growth.
The Big 12 is in something of a holding pattern. The new commissioner, Bob Bowlsby, was introduced Friday and won’t take over until June 15. It’s reasonable to believe the Big 12 will idle on this issue while he warms the seat.
While that happens, the rumors will continue to churn. The latest involves Florida State and Clemson in outside-the-box speculation. The reasoning: The Seminoles and Tigers are football-first schools that would be happier in a conference with Texas and Oklahoma than one that just added Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
Bowlsby wasn’t specific about Big 12 expansion possibilities but talked of conferences liked by an “electronic footprint,” as opposed to geographical.
Meaning, expansion can come from anywhere.
The big target would be Notre Dame in an all-in – football included – scenario. The Irish have repeated their desire for football independence but among the issues to be settled with college football headed toward a new postseason is how Notre Dame and Brigham Young, another rumored Big 12 target, would qualify for a playoff.
It might be easier to accomplish with a conference championship.
Notre Dame would be the biggest prize, the addition that would bring the greatest value to any conference.
But even without football, the Big 12 could be Notre Dame’s best spot to park its other sports, including basketball. The Big 12 might be able to offer a football scheduling alignment and access to Big 12 bowl games.
Read more here: http://campuscorner.kansascity.com/node/2633#storylink=cpy
