Nebraska's Proactive Approach Is Bad News for Big 12

Read what you want into quotes by athletic director Tom Osborne on the possibility of Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for another conference, but it's clear the Cornhuskers are considering the possibilities.

"These are interesting times," Osborne told the Lincoln Star Journal. "I think fans are a little bit nervous. All I can tell fans right now is don't think for one minute that we're asleep at the switch, that we’re just sitting here waiting for something to happen to us.

"It's much better to be proactive than reactive. I don't think I'm free to say much more than that. We are very aware. We don't plan to get left at the gate, although we could be. I just don't know what’s going to happen in this environment."

Although Osborne said "it's hard for me to believe that Texas could get a better deal" than it has in the Big 12, the case is "a little different" for Missouri and Colorado. Missouri has been mentioned as a candidate to join the Big Ten and Colorado has been linked to the Pacific 10.

The Big 12's TV payout structure has long been a sore subject for the league's lesser members. Only half of Big 12 TV revenue is divided equally. The other half is put in an "appearance pool." Teams earn units of credit for every football TV appearance and for basketball nonconference TV games.

Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, which get more TV appearances than other league members, cash in on the deal whereas Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor take a financial backseat.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard made a plea with Big 12 members to change the system at the 2007 league meetings. Pollard, who came to Ames from Wisconsin, said the Big 12 system was broke and that the Big Ten, which splits its revenue equally, was a stronger league because it divided the pie equally.

"That is a big reason that they have grown their brand as strong as they have," he said.

Although Pollard was later backed by outgoing Big 12 commish Kevin Weiberg, the league's powerhouse members would have none of it and the league has cobbled along since.

But as Osborne suggests, times are changing and the Big 12 might not be able to hold rank much longer. With the likely departure of at least two teams and no viable replacements in its neighborhood, the league could go the way of the old Southwest Conference.

That, of course, would force Texas' hand.

Comments

[Matt]

I've screamed this from the mountaintops--Nebraska leaving the Big XII is a done deal, and the Big 10 isn't going to be content to simply swallow up Rutgers or Mizzou on their own, because neither one add much more than a couple of percentage point increases in ABC coverage.

That, and when the traditionally stoic and former politician Tom Osborne did a public about face on the issue (from saying Nebraska would stick with old Big-8 chums to saying they'd listen if asked...), that is as big as any that someone has already started canoodling with Nebraska and that they're going somewhere.

Remember--this whole exercise is for the benefit of the Big 10 to a) expand their viewership for ABC games AND the Big 10 channel, and b) become relevant in football past Thanksgiving. Mizzou and Rutgers only give you an expanded ABC broadcast footprint, but they sure as hell don't give you viewers (which is why Mizzou is routinely bumped in the bowl pecking order and Rutgers is a local afterthought more often than not).

Nebraska gives you viewers across the nation, gives you matchups that would have ESPN/ABC drooling on a yearly basis in football, and gives the Big 10 Network a boost in subscriptions across the nation, as Nebraska fans don't just watch football with a fervor; Volleyball, Women's Basketball, and Baseball are all right up there.

Texas had better get their house in order, 'cause the Big XII is going to fall down around them, and the only schools they'll have to bully around are the ones willing to suck up to UT for $$ (read: Oklahoma), or the ones that no one cares if they get bullied around (read: ISU, Baylor, KSU).

[yumtoad]

I disagree that the money in the Pac 10 is better than the Big XII for CU. In fact, its not better.

[Will Smithrock]

The Big Ten's first choice is Notre Dame. They can stand pat and won't need to expand anymore if they pull in the Golden Domers this time around. The only folks against the Irish joining the Big Ten are insecure Irish fans and a handful of ND athletic department personnel. The AD and the academic side of ND are all pro-conference.

[Jim Slemaker]

Nebraska does not bring viewers nationwide. That's BS. They also do not bring anything to the men's basketball table. It's a tiny state with a tiny TV market. They are way down the list for Big Ten expansion.