***Official Big 12 Expansion Thread '16***
- Thread starter cyclones500
- Start date
http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/10/14/big-12-expansion-unlikely
Sources say the most likely outcome from Sunday/Monday's meeting with Big 12 leaders is no expansion. 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 have 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.
Sources say the most likely outcome from Sunday/Monday's meeting with Big 12 leaders is no expansion. 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 have 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.
So we keep the round robin, bring back divisions, bring back the championship game for $3 million a year per team, and we get more money from the TV partners for removing the pro-rate clause?
Sign me up.
Sign me up.
"Bring back divisions" is kind of a misnomer because nothing indicates that the Big 12 will ditch the 9 game conference schedule. But I am all aboard getting more money for changing literally nothing else, not adding programs that would water down the conference, and - looking ahead - not promoting Group of 5 programs to the Power 5 level for when/if the Big 12 collapses and Iowa State is looking for a P5 home.
We add divisions in that ISU football could suck its way into a title game like 2004-2005
Do you really think this league is more likely to survive by adding two of the teams available than they are with 10? Cause I don't.
Personally, I really think that if anything happens at all the most likely scenario is that come 2024/2025 the PAC12 and Big12 merge and drop WVU to the ACC and OU/OSU to the SEC and maybe KU to the Big10.
But to me the most important thing will be whether we have a 4 team or 8 team playoff come 2024.
I absolutely do. If we invested in a team that had growth potential, like a UCF, they could add a lot to the conference by that point.
But we're too busy looking at the 'right now'. Just as shortsighted is the championship game itself, that will likely cost the big 12 playoff appearances, especially if the playoff goes to 8, as it would likely eliminate any chance of 2 big 12 teams getting in, where we would have had that a couple years ago in an 8 team playoff
To me, adding teams is short-sighted. You are getting $25mil for a few years, but it is only going to go down at the next round of TV negotiations. Getting less money per team will push OU out in 2025. UT will try to keep it together until the LHN deal is done. At that point, they'll either go independent or have their pick of conference options.
Adding a school that is adding 60,000 to its alumni base every year sure is desperation.
Eyeballs are the future of college sports. Fanbase size being a large factor in that. Who gives a damn what their name is.
ESPN acts in their own best interest. Not the big 12's. ESPN would be fine with the big 12 disappearing in 10 years.
