(09-18-2015 12:11 AM)JRsec Wrote: The announcement of the new interim AD at Texas signals a change of directions. A coolness toward the PAC has now set in, and an intentional warming to Oklahoma position is now beginning. Together the two might be able to work for dissolution.
It will be interesting to watch developments going forward.
From another board, not me.
ESPN and the ACC have made tremendous progress on the structure and contract regarding an ACC Network. Would not be surprised if you see a press conference involving the ACC Network in and around the ACC Championship game. Notre Dame has been actively involved in the ACC Network negotiations, so also would not be surprised to see a renegotiation of the ACC-ESPN television contract.
A few notes on the Longhorn Network, which explains why Texas will NEVER join the PAC 12, SEC, or BIG Ten;
ESPN pays Texas 11 million per year beginning in 2011, with a 3% increase each season until ESPN makes its investment back. Then Texas receives 50% of all revenue.
Longhorn Network Contract prevent Texas from being a part of any other network until 2031.
The only option for Texas in realignment is joining the ACC under a similar agreement as Notre Dame currently has in place. Texas sees itself and can justify itself as a Notre Dame on the National stage. Texas is far more like Notre Dame than they are Ohio State or USC or Alabama, and that is how they feel. So point here is any shake up in the Big 12 will result in Texas going independent in football and moving Olympic Sports to the ACC, and the ACC will welcome them with open arms! On that note Oklahoma is not happy, and unless the Big 12 expands and adds its own network, Oklahoma will leave, and the GOR will not stop Oklahoma. Which is why their is enormous pressure on the Big 12 Expansion Committee to design an expansion solution that has long term benefits for Oklahoma and others within the Big 12. This is why I believe in the end that expansion design will be two phased with (4) schools over 5 years, and the Big 12 will eventually be the Big 14. Should expansion not occur, then the Big 12 dissolves and a new conference will form (as Coach Tubs has mentioned in the past). A new conference will include Big leftovers, who did not join other P5 conferences, along with AAC and MWC members.
My personal opinion, is that the Big 12 will dissolve, too many differences to unify them for expansion. Texas will join the ACC in Olympic Sports and be independent in Football, as is Notre Dame. Kansas and Oklahoma will move to the Big Ten. While the PAC 12 in collusion with the Big 10 moves to add (2) schools from TCU, Baylor, and Texas TECH, as well as Oklahoma State, and Kansas St. This collusion effort helps both conferences in cross-alignment. The SEC has no interest in remaining Big 12 members, nor does the ACC, as there is no financial benefit to either. I believe the remaining Big 12 schools, some ACC members, MWC members, and BYU form a new national conference, and yes this conference will be a P5 Conference. At this point the FBS splits, and you see the NCAA reorganize as follows;
FBS
FBS-IA
FCS - Several FCS schools move up to FBS-IA, which leads to new conferences, and new revenue for broadcasters.