The AAC isn't so bad guys

Football
61

That’s what ESPN would have accepted, but FOX was against that pairing.

62

The most prolific team in recent college sports history plays in the AAC…

Uconn women’s hoops

2 Likes
63

I’m pretty sure ESPN paying the $25 million to get out of the $50 million expansion deal ended all expansion talks.

64

That was after the decision had already been made; ESPN basically paid to get out of the pro-rata clause as they didn’t want the large contingent of Big 12 FOX schools to band together and expand later on with schools that ESPN didn’t approve of. Technically, the Big 12 can expand now, but FOX will be on the hook for whatever pro-rata money they owe in the deal. Won’t happen so it doesn’t really matter.

65

In the end UT was driving this bus. And they did a masterful job of getting folks at UH to believe they would support expansion. Expansion would not have diminished the payout to schools. It would have strengthened the Big 12’s presence in Houston and SE Texas. It would have strengthened the Big 12, period. Market share means money. Moreover it would have thwarted the SEC’s encroachment into this market.

You might ask why then did UT not act in the best interests of the Big 12 and really - as opposed to symbolically - pushed not just for expansion but for UH’s admission. The answer is simple. None of this impacts UT in the least. Or not for the near future, anyway. UT viewers will continue to follow their beloved Longhorns. So the UT share of the SE Texas market will hold strong. Unless, of course, Herman fails to turn the program around. Coming in with a recruiting class ranked variously from 30 to (OMG) 40 could lead to trouble if it continues. So, bottom line, UT really didn’t have much to lose by the Big12’s failure to expand and bring UH in house.

But the other programs (Tech, K State, Kansas, ISU,TCU, and even W. Va.) are going to take it on the chin by the collective yawn coming from viewers in this market. And don’t think the media providers aren’t taking note. These viewers have shown over and over that they will watch UH play just about anyone before they will watch, e.g., Kansas State play (pick it). When UH vs UCONN rates on par with UT - OU then it’s a new day in football in Texas. Unless of course you want to swallow the Big 12’s alt-facts.