The Big 12 is "not likely" to add any potential new members prior to the '17 football season as the conference explores the idea of expanding by either two or four teams, according to Kirk Bohls of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said, “The idea of them playing (in the Big 12) in 2017 is probably not realistic." Bohls reports a "strong presentation that lasted nearly three hours Tuesday" from Big 12 TV consultants Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures and Navigate Research "convinced the league's presidents that the Big 12 would be wise to seriously consider growing; a bigger league, they contended, would increase the Big 12’s chances of attaining" a CFP berth up to 77%. Adding schools also would "add to the available inventory in the event of a Big 12 network." Bowlsby: "There were a few things perhaps that were either new or in conjunction with things we already knew that became more powerful. There was a compelling story told, and they were persuasive.” Bohls notes the Big 12 "also was influenced by Monday’s announcement that the ACC had reached a deal with ESPN to start a conference network and agreed to extend the binding ACC grant of rights for their first-tier television rights" through '36. But Bowlsby said that he "doesn’t think that puts pressure on the Big 12 to further its own grant of rights beyond" the current end date of '24-25 (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/21). Bowlsby said, "Little by little, we have tried to crunch numbers and have a lot of conversations, and I think our board took another step the other day and said, ‘You know, let’s find out what it would look like. Is it two? Is it four?’ Take into account geography and quality of their athletics program, quality of the academic offerings, traditions, histories, metropolitan areas, media markets” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 7/21).
WAITING FOR A PAYDAY: Bowlsby yesterday indicated that it will be "several years before any new member receives a full share of conference revenue." He said, "There isn't any question there will be a phase-in of revenue from a distribution standpoint." In Dallas, Chuck Carlton notes this means the relatively rich in the Big 12 "will be getting richer, thanks to the pro rata clause in the conference's TV contracts with ESPN and Fox." Those contracts, which were announced in '12, have a clause that "gives the conference an additional share for each new member." Not all of that share "would necessarily go to the new members." The pro rata amount this year was reportedly $23M. A source indicated that the Big 12 "might start new members" at $5-7M, "still more than in their current conferences." Assume four members getting $6M each initially, which "would leave a windfall" of $68M "to be divided among the 10 current full members" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/21). In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch writes a "strong case could be made" that "this shapes up as a short-term money grab by existing members to brace themselves for the possibility that the league may not outlive its TV deals with ESPN and Fox that expire" after the '24-25 school year (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/21). The AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN's Bohls writes, "Look for Texas to cling to the Longhorn Network and to shy away from an extension of the grant of rights that weds it (and Oklahoma) to the Big 12 for eight more years." A source said, “I am not sure what the real choices (for new schools) are at this point." Bohls writes expansion "does smack of a money grab until the grant of rights expires," but the call for expansion "appears to grow out of a desire for more television inventory for at a minimum, a Big 12 digital network" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/21).
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UCF and Houston are among a handful of schools
vying to join the Big 12 |
CANDIDATES LINING UP: UCF President John Hitt said that he is "hoping the school will receive strong consideration" to join the Big 12. He said, "We ought to be considered very seriously. There ought to be a home for us in the Big 12. ... We’re going to do everything we can to be sure people make whatever decision they make based on good information" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/21). Univ. of Houston President Renu Khator and AD Hunter Yurachek last last night "went into sell-mode, releasing separate statements extolling many of the virtues -- academic standing, media market, strength of athletic program -- the Big 12 said it desires" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/21). Memphis AD Tom Bowen "didn't specifically address Big 12 expansion or the U of M's aggressive pursuit, but a reading between the lines revealed a certain intent." Bowen said, "The university is prepared to take action when opportunities to increase the level of positive attention and exposure for our city, campus and athletic department are presented" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/21). BYU AD Tom Holmoe said he was “obviously excited” about the Big 12’s decision. Holmoe: “I believe we have an exceptional athletic program" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/21). UNLV AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy yesterday said that she "already has had recent talks" with university President Len Jessup "about the Big 12 situation, although she downplayed suggestions that UNLV was ready to act quickly and approach the league" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/21).
GEOGRAPHY LESSON: Bowlsby said the conference in the past was "always concerned about a geographic footprint," but that is likely "less of a concern today than it was maybe 25 years ago." He said, "Now we are talking about an electronic footprint: What kinds of density and coverage do you get with your product, if you will, on the traditional and now new media? So there are a lot of components to take into account" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 7/21). ESPN's Pablo Torre said, "We know that college football is just this giant Risk board and we know the Big 12 is Australia. It’s the most isolated, it’s the smallest, no one wants to start there honestly, but they've just got to grab more land! This is the story that we’ve been telling about every conference at this point” (“PTI,” ESPN, 7/20).
DO THESE SCHOOLS ADD ANYTHING? In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise writes the Big 12 "doesn’t need more members, or at least not more members from the pool of schools that are still available after the last 10 years of conference realignment." When looking at some of the schools available, Zeise wonders if any of those schools "open new markets that are essential to the Big 12’s viability" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/21). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote if the Big 12 "wants to attract a viable member to its 'team,' i.e., not Memphis or Houston, it needs to broker an agreement with UT and ESPN for a bona fide network." If the Big 12 "is unable to create a legit network that includes Texas, forget being able to somehow lure a real school back to this league like Nebraska or Missouri." The future Big 12 "is going to look like a cross between the old Conference USA and the Mountain West." Fox Sports and FS Southwest sources said that the networks "have approached the Big 12 about possibly joining forces, but the existence of the Longhorn Network continues to prevent a merger" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 7/20). ESPN's Brett McMurphy said, “This is basically a beauty pageant. The Big 12 presidents will decide what they want (but) I don’t think they know what they want yet ("College Football Live," ESPN2, 7/20).
AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS: In Orlando, Matt Murschel notes AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco does not want the league and its members "to lose focus with the news of the Big 12’s decision to explore possible expansion candidates." He said, "We’ve been operating in the shadow of this and we’ve had incredible success as a conference and we’re going to continue to go about our business. ... We’ll be strong regardless of what happens. " While Aresco "wouldn’t talk specifically on what the league would do if one of those schools mentioned or another would leave for the Big 12, he did reiterate that the American has talked about a contingency plan in case such a situation should arise" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/21).
TWITTER REAX: Austin American-Statesman's Davis: "Multiple sources tell me this idea Texas would somehow block Houston from joining Big 12 is not true. Out-of-state schools might, though." SB Nation's Jason Kirk: "If the Big 12's list doesn't start with BYU, the simple solution is to trash that list and make a better list." ESPN's Jay Bilas: "Big 12 gathers to talk about being at the forefront of education. No, wait...they're talking about money. My bad." Bleacher Report's Bryan Fischer: "Being all about the money is far from a Big 12 thing, they’re just going last in this round of capital financing." CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd: "Thinking of launching website, hiring hip, young journos, partner with HBO to chronicle online B12 expansion 'experts'. The Unglued." Newsweek's John Walters: "Declaring war on ISIS is a little like inviting Ball State to play in the Big 12; gives them a high profile that will only help in 'cruitin.'"
