BEVO BEAT Football Golden: I’m leaning toward a Texas upset over Notre Dame Posted August 2nd, 2016


In today’s Golden’s Nuggets, Cedric touches on a couple Bevo-related items. Here’s what he had to say about them:

On ESPN’s and Fox’s grumpiness on Big 12 expansion:

Can you really blame ESPN and Fox for being concerned about the Big 12 expanding from its present 10 teams?


According to a story in the SportsBusiness Journal, the TV giants aren’t really excited about the idea of having to add money to the league coffers in prorated rights fees if the conference adds teams, which would presumably come from non-Power 5 conferences.

So, for instance, if the league went from 10 to 14 schools by adding — let’s say, BYU, UConn, Cincinnati and Houston — then the networks would be on the hook for another $80 million. Two schools would cost an additional $40 million, according to the SBJ’s report.

The message here is that the Big 12 feels there is more strength in numbers while the networks have to be wondering if the money is worth adding schools from smaller leagues as opposed to poaching another Power 5 school. All that comes while the league is looking at a conference title game for 2017.

“In both the case of the championship game and in the case of the pro-rata adjustments, you know, we’re in complete compliance with the contract,” league commissioner Bob Bowlsby said during Big 12 media days. “So I don’t think we have to make apologies for activating around stipulations that we both agreed to.” Is it as simple as the quality of teams the league is considering? Probably. Shoot, I prefer the brand name stuff at Walmart as opposed to Great Value. Here’s an example: The reports of Arkansas possibly wanting out of the SEC have been around for years, especially since the Hogs have yet to win an SEC title in its 25 years in the conference. ESPN, which holds a $3 billion contract with the SEC as well, might not be too interested in upsetting that apple cart, but something tells me the Big 12’s position would be much stronger if a big state school like Arkansas really wanted to join.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses guests at Big 12 media day in Dallas last month.

With that said, the Hogs would be crazy to forfeit their grant of rights money in the SEC for a change of scenery.

Which brings us to the issue at hand. Somehow the Big 12 will have to convince its TV partners that less isn’t more when it comes to expansion. That’s one hard sell.

RELATED COVERAGE: Report: ESPN, Fox executives pushing back against Big 12 expansion

On Charlie Strong finally getting some good luck this season:

Texas’ run of bad fortune has to end sometime, right? We’re fast approaching one month until the season opener against Notre Dame — and I’m leaning toward picking the Longhorns to spring the upset. That’s leaning, not locked-in.

Isn’t it time for Charlie Strong to catch a break? Maybe, just maybe, the stars are slowly aligning at Bellmont after a great recruiting class and the recent additions from Baylor.

Sure, I reserve the right to change my mind, but the Horns have yet to put together a signature performance against a title contender at home during Strong’s tenure. What better time to do that than on a Sunday night under the lights with the whole nation watching?

RELATED COVERAGE: One year later, Charlie Strong rethinks the focus on Notre Dame opener

For the rest of Cedric’s Nuggets, including his take on what’s going on in Aggieland and NBA’s Draymond Green, click here.

On Statesman.com Game day photo gallery

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