10 teams, 12 teams, new teams, old teams, Big 8, SWC...welcome to the Big 12!
The TV Contracts: The Big 12 currently has TV deals with both ESPN and FOX Sports. They signed a 13-year deal with FOX Sports in 2011 worth a reported $1.2 billion. The contract calls for FOX to double the number of football games they were showing on their various networks that include FX & FSN. FOX also televises games on national FOX on Saturday afternoons or evenings.
The league had a deal with ESPN that ran through 2015-16 that was extended 9 years to coincide with the FOX deal. That deal is reportedly worth $1.3 billion. Between the two deals, each member school receives approx. $21 million per season - that is with the current 10 school structure.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the seperate deal Texas has with ESPN. The both of them created the Longhorn Network. That deal is worth $300 million over 20 years. Much of the recent troubles in the league stem directly from this.
Creation and Recent Troubles: The Big 12 was created in 1994. The 12 original members included all members of the Big 8 and 4 schools from the SWC. Those schools were Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor & Texas Tech. The league began play in 1996.
At the time of creation, the league considered adding New Mexico and BYU as well. They also considered those schools as Texas flirted with the possibility of joining the Pac 10 and A&M with the SEC. Texas lawmakers fought those moves and eventually persuaded them to join the new Big 12 along with Baylor & Tech. Left behind were SMU, Houston, TCU & Rice.
By 2010, their was friction within the conference was mostly between the North schools and South schools. Nebraska thought Texas held too much sway over the conference but a more important problem was the lack of revenue sharing between member schools. On top of that, rumors were rampant that B1G expansion was targeting Nebraska. The Pac 10 was also said to be interested in Texas, Texas A&M, OU & OSU and possibly Baylor.
On June 10th of that year, Colorado announced it was leaving to join the Pac-10. Instead of waiting to see what would become of the Big 12, they jumped so Baylor wouldn't get in before them. A day later, Nebraska left for the Big 10. The rumors of the other schools to the Pac 10 seemed a fait accompli. Eventually, Texas was placated with the ok to create their own network. The surprising note was Oklahoma and Texas A&M had actually been discussing joining the SEC but agreed to stay in the Big 12 and sever discussions with the SEC.
The conference decided to stand pat at 10 teams and end their championship game. A year later, Texas A&M unhappy with the Longhorn network would finally join the SEC. The SEC would add Missouri a few months later in what was a poorly kept secret. More importantly, following the A&M move and ACC expansion, the Pac 10, now Pac 12 was said again to be exploring adding Texas, Texas Tech and the two Oklahoma schools. Once again, the conference teetered but the Pac 12 saved the conference by announcing on September 20, 2011 they would be remaining at 12 schools. In October, member schools agreed to revenue sharing from the conference TV deals.
It also spawned one of college footballs best fake twitter account, @FakeDanBeebe, the beleagured commissioner who was eventually fired.
To replace A&M and Missouri, the league added TCU who was set to join the Big East and took West Virginia from the Big East over Louisville. TCU had not been invited in the original creation. West Virginia had sought membership in the SEC to join with A&M but were rebuffed. Second choices abound.
What Hath Expansion Wrought: Well, complete chaos? The Big 12 is the youngest of the BCS conferences and until last year, seemed destined for exctinction. On top of the mass exodus to the Pac 10, it was rumored the remaining schools (KU, KSU, ISU, BU, Mizzou at the time) would move to the Big East to solidify that conference.
Well, new TV contracts and revenue sharing seems to have quieted things down. In May of this year, rumors ran rampant Florida State were interested in joining the Big 12 and talks of expansion remain alive to get to 12 teams and bring back the conference title game. Both Louisville and Cincinnati would likely be chomping at the bit to join the league should an invite come. Memphis would be, too. In the past, BYU was considered as well and should they give up independence, they'd be an attractive option.
The footing is still shaky and should the Pac 12 decide to expand, one would imagine schools of the Big 12 would be targeted. Should the SEC decide to expand, they set their eyes on Oklahoma before. Would they again? Or will the Big 12 be proactive like the Big 10 and decide to expand before they get decimated and target ACC members or what is left of the Big east carcass?
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