The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — The Big 12 Conference survived one of the most tumultuous two weeks in college football history. Even after being pronounced dead by most around the country and even by those who reside in it, it emerged as a functioning conference.
Even after Nebraska and Colorado bolted, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was able to hold the other 10 teams in place.
“We’ve landed in a good place, not just for the Big 12, but for all collegiate athletics, in my opinion,” he said.
But how can that be possible?
The agreement that emerged earlier this week kept the conference alive, but it emerged as something closer to a caste system instead of a unified conference with 10 equal members. Some schools came out big winners in the revamped Big 12. Others took a hit.
Oklahoma won big on several fronts
· Financially, the Sooners joined Texas and Texas A&M in hitting the jackpot.
All three could stand to make $20 million in 2012 from the conference’s television package. The Sooners pocketed $12.7 million last year.
“They’re projections, but they seem to be very solid projections,” OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said.
· In term’s of prestige, the Sooners also flexed their muscle. After being aggressively courted by the Pac-10 and SEC along with Texas and Texas A&M, OU left no doubt it is one of the most powerful schools in college sports. No matter how the college sports landscape changes in the coming years, the Sooners are going to be a power player.
“’The University of Oklahoma is an iconic brand and it’s a responsibility we take serious — and not just ownership of that brand, but stewardship,” Castiglione said. “We make our decisions. Our own decisions.”
The Sooners, however, weren’t the biggest winner. That honor belongs to Texas, which proved to be the driving force behind all conference-shifting debate. Its status as a football power that is also home to two of the countries largest media markets — Dallas and Houston — make it the school every conference is dying to have.
Due to proximity, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State also did well in the revamped Big 12. Both were targets of Pac-10 expansion talk. They won’t reap of the benefits of the expanded Pac-10. Under that scenario, both teams were expected to pocket $20 million a year in the television revenue sharing plan. Instead, they’ll both make $14-17 million in the Big 12.
It’s also hard to say Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri and Baylor came out losers in this situation. They’ll see their television revenue expand $14-17 million per school in the Big 12. That’s double what their currently collect.
But they didn’t win either. Their choice to relinquish their share of the buyout money from Nebraska and Colorado as a lure to keep the Sooners, Longhorns and Aggies in the conference, shows all schools aren’t equal. Some wounds might heal in the coming years, but making concessions out of desperation are rarely rewarded.
Nebraska’s decision to bolt for the Big Ten looks like a winner. The conference has an expanding television network that has consistently growing revenue. It will take the Huskers a few years to become fully vested. But when they do, there won’t be any questions about the Big Ten’s long-term stability.
The only drawback is going without $9 million in Big 12 money Nebraska must forfeit for leaving the Big 12.
Colorado, on the other hand, gambled with its decision. It jumped first to guarantee a spot in the expanding Pac-10. The only problem is instead of landing in league that included Oklahoma and Texas and had appeal on the West Coast, in the Midwest and Southwest, in joined a league that hasn’t expanded past the Mountain Time Zone.
The $9 million it won’t get from the Big 12 will also hurt an athletic department that was already cash strapped.
Of course, Colorado knows what conference it will be playing in six years from now.
The Big 12 still exists, but its foundation isn’t solid.
The revenue projections are part of re-negotiated television contracts that will carry the conference through 2016. Many believe the issues that had the Big 12 on the brink of collapse are far from resolved. It could be right back in the same spot in six years.
“’We’re going forward with the belief that we’ll stay together,” Castiglione said. “Probably argue that this group will be closer than it’s ever been, but time will tell. The conference will examine the contractual relationships that would bind us together.”
But it became clear over the last week, that some schools clearly have more power than others.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
