Over the past two weeks, the Big 12 has seen its name in the headlines as Oklahoma and Texas seek to leave the conference.
The Sooners and Longhorns are hoping to make the jump to the SEC. According to a previous report, ESPN stands to be a benefactor of that decision.
The Worldwide Leader takes over 100-percent of the media rights for the SEC in 2024-25. It currently splits Big 12 rights with FOX, so ESPN could conceivably make much more money with Oklahoma and Texas moving to the SEC.
With that in mind, the Big 12 just pulled an interesting move. The conference sent a cease and desist message to ESPN. In the statement – via college football reporter Pete Thamel – the conference made it clear ESPN is not to communicate with current Big 12 programs.
“The letter demands ESPN ‘end all actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference’s existing members or any NCAA conference regarding the Big 12 conference’s members, possible conference realignment or potential financial incentive or outcomes related to possible conference realignment,’” according to Thamel.
Of course, that led to plenty of response from fans. Everyone highlighted that lawyers will be a prominent player in the upcoming negotiations.
The lawyers have never lost a game. And they never will. https://t.co/ny3h7GNJcr
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) July 28, 2021
One set of lawyers will be a lot better than the other set. https://t.co/OYCumIKV05
— Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) July 28, 2021
Oklahoma and Texas appear to have already made their decision. Now the Big 12 is just trying to save face and hold on to its remaining schools.
We’ll have to wait and see if they can.
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