OK, maybe you can explain... but, the ESPN contract, is obviously the Longhorn Sports Network. The Big 12 deal is through Fox. The SEC deal is through ESPN. Now, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that ESPN is/was protecting their two biggest interests, one of them being the Big 12? Because, frankly... it looks like they could care less what happens to the Big 12 as long as they have Texas (LHN) and the SEC deal- which are the two "properties" they care about most. Any destruction of the Big 12 would not "destroy" their Big 12 property... Texas has the ability to go independent at any time and still have a successful network.
ESPN carries the Tier 1 property for the B12. Fox only has control over Tier 2.
Could care less what happens to the B12? They are credited as being one of the major players that kept it together last season. There is a reason why the B12 didn't lose a dime in their contract even though they no longer have a championship game and are down two teams.
The Longhorn Network is one of their two properties they care about most? Seriously? It's $15 million a year. The upcoming B12 Tier 1 negotiations could easily be on par with that of the P12 if not higher do to the much increased interest in college football in the Midwest in comparison to that of the West Coast.
The idea that Texas is going independent is naive and just uncontrollably idiotic. Everyone tries to say that "CFB is a business" yet when realignment talk starts they throw away the easiest core business principles out the window. Do you honestly think that Texas is going to mortgage their entire athletic program on a $15 million/year deal? What do they do with every sport besides football? Do you really think they are going to bury their mens basketball program in some mid major conference or toss their baseball program to the wolves? They stay in the B12 they have increased revenue, security, highly reduced travel costs, access to other B12 institutions, etc.
Any time anyone tries to tell me that Texas is going independent my nose starts to bleed.
It's almost as dumb as the idea that A&M and Texas are going to split. Here is something to chew on: they share endowment dollars. The research money that goes back and forth between those two institutions alone dwarfs any increased revenue from them splitting up.
I feel the vast majority of you have no clue what you're talking about. I get it, you all want to see that school to the west burn, which in fact would hurt the economy of the state many of you live in. You're rooting to **** yourselves over, just to watch others suffer.
I'm starting to think the majority of you are ******* idiots.