When you take the quotes from the conference commissioners over the last couple of weeks. Here is my best guess on what happens:
1. The 8 add 2 and call it good. Why only 2 and not 4? Because outside of BYU, there really isn't anyone left that is as solid as ISU/KU/KSU/Tech/WVU. Everyone else is in the TCU/BU fan base level pool. So why add 4 when you can get by with 2?
2. The Big 12 will get an auto bid in the expanded CFP and will be considered a P5 league. Besides it allowing him to be magnanimous, the ACC commish's comments about the BIg 12 being important as a P5 league was said for a reason.
3. The Big 12 schools will make less money than currently, but not a 50% hit...25%? Bowlsby going off on ESPN and then saying there would be no more public bitching seems very important. I know Jamie thinks a lot of Bowlsby's abilities and that is good enough for me. Bowlsby has the ESPN/AAC smoking gun and is using that as leverage. Helluva lot better for ESPN to pay an extra $50 million a year over what they would have had to pay to broadcast the games than go through the cost/embarrassment/etc...of a court battle that could end up in a massive judgement against them.
I suspect the moves by ESPN/SEC finally forced the PAC 12, Big Ten, & ACC to understand they could ultimately be the next victim....especially the PAC 12. Shopping for big brands with the ESPN credit card poses a big threat.
OTOH, I could be completely FOS. It will be interesting to see what the PAC 12 announces regarding expansion later this week. I'm betting they don't.
1. The 8 add 2 and call it good. Why only 2 and not 4? Because outside of BYU, there really isn't anyone left that is as solid as ISU/KU/KSU/Tech/WVU. Everyone else is in the TCU/BU fan base level pool. So why add 4 when you can get by with 2?
2. The Big 12 will get an auto bid in the expanded CFP and will be considered a P5 league. Besides it allowing him to be magnanimous, the ACC commish's comments about the BIg 12 being important as a P5 league was said for a reason.
3. The Big 12 schools will make less money than currently, but not a 50% hit...25%? Bowlsby going off on ESPN and then saying there would be no more public bitching seems very important. I know Jamie thinks a lot of Bowlsby's abilities and that is good enough for me. Bowlsby has the ESPN/AAC smoking gun and is using that as leverage. Helluva lot better for ESPN to pay an extra $50 million a year over what they would have had to pay to broadcast the games than go through the cost/embarrassment/etc...of a court battle that could end up in a massive judgement against them.
I suspect the moves by ESPN/SEC finally forced the PAC 12, Big Ten, & ACC to understand they could ultimately be the next victim....especially the PAC 12. Shopping for big brands with the ESPN credit card poses a big threat.
OTOH, I could be completely FOS. It will be interesting to see what the PAC 12 announces regarding expansion later this week. I'm betting they don't.
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