Oklahoma
ESPN chairman reaffirms that Oklahoma and Texas will remain in the Big 12 until 2025
The Large 12 would be the dwelling of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns for a number of extra seasons, if a high ESPN government is to be believed.
That has been broadly reported since information broke final fall that the Sooners and Longhorns are leaving the Large 12 for the SEC, however hypothesis has remained that the applications might depart the Large 12 early.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, nonetheless — on Deitsch’s unaffiliated Sports activities Media Podcast — ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro reaffirmed that Texas and Oklahoma will certainly stay within the Large 12 till 2025.
ESPN acquired the SEC tv package deal at present held by CBS in December of 2020, and the 10-year deal between the SEC and ESPN will go in impact in 2024.
Whereas speaking about that deal and ESPN’s plans for the SEC, Pitaro defined, amongst different issues, that the community shall be broadcasting one non-conference recreation for each SEC workforce, yearly, beginning with 14 whole video games in 2024 earlier than bumping as much as 16 whole video games in 2025 when Oklahoma and Texas be a part of the convention.
“As soon as Texas and Oklahoma are in, we can have 16 out-of-conference video games, one per workforce. Pitaro stated. “Effectively, with Texas and Oklahoma it will likely be in 2025, so in 2024 it will likely be 14 (video games).
“That was the deal we struck a 12 months in the past with the SEC.”
The Large 12 will develop to 14 groups subsequent season when BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF take part time to compete as convention members in the course of the 2023-24 12 months.
Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all negotiated early exits from the American Athletic Convention, whereas BYU, as an impartial, was all the time planning on becoming a member of the Large 12 in 2023.
On ESPN’s negotiations with the Pac-12 and Large Ten
Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) runs the ball in the course of the Pac-12 championship recreation in opposition to the Oregon Geese at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Pitaro additionally answered questions concerning ongoing ESPN negotiations with each the Pac-12 and Large Ten conferences concerning media rights.
Particular to the Large Ten, Pitaro famous, “We have now a fantastic relationship with the Large Ten. They’re definitely an ascending convention proper now and I’m not speaking about simply soccer. I’ve an excellent relationship with Kevin (Warren), their commissioner.
“They’ve been a giant a part of ESPN for a very long time now. It’s no secret right here… we’re in discussions. Identical to each different property, we enter these discussions understanding we are able to’t get every little thing and we’re going to proceed with self-discipline and thoughtfulness.
“We’re very a lot in it proper now. However we love the Large Ten. I believe everybody loves the Large Ten. They’re in an excellent place proper now.”
As for the Pac-12, Pitaro added, “Is there much less stock (due to ESPN’s take care of the SEC)? After all there’s, however there’s loads of room and we’re pursuing each conferences (the Large Ten and Pac-12).
“We’re completely pursuing each. Every convention deal is dealt with on a case-by-case foundation. Once we did the SEC deal, nobody at ESPN stated we’re strolling away from the opposite conferences.”