Big 12 Agrees to 13 Year, $2.6 Billion TV Deal With ESPN/Fox

As reported by CBSSports’ Dennis Dodd, this is a blockbuster deal. It amounts to approximately $20 million annually for each university. The deal places the Big 12 firmly in the upper-crust of college sports royalty.

The deal compares favorably to deals inked by the SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12. This should also put to bed any further rumors of the Big 12’s demise. The only issue with Dodd’s coverage, is that he does not give a lot of play to what I feel is a major “plot-point” of the story: it appears that the initial 6-year grant-of-rights will be extended to 13 years as well.

The task facing new Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby is now to find two more schools that add $20 million per year of value to the conference. Louisville is interested in jumping to the Big 12, but there’s is not the most interesting name I have heard. That honor belongs to Clemson and Florida State. Both schools are apparently dissatisfied with the ACC’s recent expansion additions, and would be willing to make the move to the Big 12, should invitations be forthcoming. In my view, both schools better fit the “$20 million” requirement than does Louisville. More to come on this at a later time, but for now, it could be time to strap yourselves in for another round of realignment craziness this summer.