Big 12 opens media rights negotiations ahead of schedule; early exit for Oklahoma, Texas being considered
One of the few advantages the crippled Pac-12 had in realignment is that it was next in line among the major conferences to have its media rights contract renewed. At a time when there was a question whether there would even be a Pac-12 after the loss of USC and UCLA, that was everything.
That advantage disappeared Wednesday when the Big 12 announced it would soon enter into negotiations with its media partners, ESPN and Fox. The Big 12 contract that expires in 2025 could now conceivably be renegotiated and moved up ahead of the Pac-12. That conference’s deal with the same two networks expires in 2024.
“It’s a smart move for [the Big 12],” said a veteran media rights negotiator. “If you’re the Big 12, why wouldn’t you do this? … It doesn’t bind either side.”
What it does is create a possibility for the Big 12 to leapfrog