Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy said that the Univ. of Texas "needs to eliminate the Longhorn Network in order for the Big 12 to avoid increased instability," according to Dennis Dodd of CBSSPORTS.com. Gundy said that the league overall "needs to market itself better," adding that the conference is at a "disadvantage because of the widespread distribution and success of the SEC Network and Big Ten Network." He said that eliminating LHN -- which he "called a 'failure' -- and creating a conference-wide Big 12 Network would give the league more national exposure." Gundy: “If we don't eliminate the Longhorn Network and create our own network, they're going to continue to have issues with this league." Dodd noted LHN "reportedly has lost" $48M since its launch in '11. A source said that its annual losses are "now in the single-digit millions." Both ESPN and Texas "seem committed" to the 20-year, $295M agreement that would pay the school an average of $15M per year. Gundy's views on the network "are the same" as those of Oklahoma President David Boren, the "most outspoken Big 12 source on the subject." Boren has said that the league "needs to expand and add a conference championship game." Gundy said, "I appreciate what Boren is doing." He added, "If Texas doesn't (fold LHN) in X number of years, they're going to be in the Pac-12 or SEC. If that's what they want, keep riding this horse. If you don't want that, you better make some changes or it's going to happen whether you like it or not" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/22).
