The Big 12 Conference might not be so big anymore, though it has yet to be confirmed that Texas A&M is in full swing to become the newest member of the Southeastern Conference. The Big 12 has historically been compromised of 10 teams located in the central plains and Texas. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State have both been rumored to be leaving the conference for the past several months. However, the threat of lawsuits from Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas has kept rumors of the talks to a minimum.
Schools like Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas have good reason to be worried about the action of their fellow Big 12 members, as the Big 12 recently signed a deal with Fox for an estimated $90 million over a period of 13 years, starting in 2012. Stacked upon this deal is a soon-to-be-expired joint deal with ABC and ESPN. After signing the now-pending Fox deal, Iowa began projects to expand the school. An estimated $40 million in bonds was taken out in anticipation of the contract; the money will be directed to building a new video board, football building and sports complex for track, soccer and softball. Unfortunately for the remaining Big 12 teams, Texas A&M’s withdrawal may put the deal in jeopardy.
Kansas finds itself in a similar position, their fiscal budget having been set in anticipation of the revenue to come from the Fox contract. Missouri has put a hold on its major $160 million capital campaign until it is sure of the structure of the conferences. With multiple intermingled contracts and millions of dollars on the line, tension amongst the conferences is only growing.
Though Texas’s withdrawal has left the Big 12 in an awkward position, even more dampening to the conference is Oklahoma’s rejection of an invitation. The conference had hoped to absorb teams outside of Texas in order to avoid Texas football politics. However, Oklahoma’s rejection has resulted in a cannibalistic environment where Big 12 and Big East schools are attempting to bolster their conference through the absorption of different schools.
A few months ago the biggest concern for the Big 12 was replacing its 10th team. Now up to four more teams could leave the conference. The five remaining teams could try to hold the conference together as well as the Big 12 money this would guarantee the five their position in the BCS and automatic berth in the NCAA tournament for a two -year period. But that would leave the Big East with nine teams, three short of its total 12 and the Big 12, at five would be seven.
If rumors are true, Kansas, Kansas State and the Oklahoma schools, in a worst-case scenario, will be able to find some sort of refuge within the Pac-12. Texas Tech and Texas A&M are in a precarious situation due to contracts and television deals. Texas’ only solace could be found in joining the ACC where layered contracts would allow them to hold on to their ESPN contracts and maintain their Longhorn Network. No matter how the situation solves itself Baylor and Iowa State are going to be stuck fending for themselves. In order to stay together they would have to opt out of the Big 12 and become minor players in the Big East, resulting in major loss in TV revenue for the Bears and Cyclones.
“Who can you trust now? It’s so unfortunate that it has come to this,” said an ESPN source with knowledge of Big 12’s situation. “Everyone is working independently. No one is being straight with anyone anymore.”
