Report: OU & Texas reach out to join SEC

[cyrocksmypants]

Am I the only one seeing more positive numbers than what the networks want us to see? 7.2 million watched TX vs OK last year. Yes. A big number. BUT, 6.7 million watched ISU vs OR which out drew OK's bowl. More watched ISU's game against OkSt than watched Texas in their bowl. Outside of 'Red River Rivalry', I just don't get the big viewership argument.

Clearly Iowa State has 'viewership' the media outlets want us to believe isn't there.

I mean, ultimately the “value” is going to be whatever the television stations decide they want it to be. If they want to come and say “your school is only worth $3 million dollars and that’s all we’ll pay for the rights” then that’s the value, viewership be damned.

 

[PickSix]

Why not play with the big boys and be a power there? I’d rather win a conference with Ohio st, Michigan, Oregon or the like vs Memphis, Tulane and UCF. That argument makes zero sense. It doesn’t matter at this point how you get in the door. Just get in there.

Agreed. Before I went to ISU, I was a Boise State fan during their Fiesta Bowl glory days. Being the big fish in a small pond was fun for awhile, until you realize that no matter how great you perform, or how many undefeated seasons you have, you’ll never be respected nationally.

I’d rather suffer through some horrible seasons and have a few great ones in a power conference, than go undefeated in a weak conference and be told that our best isn’t enough. I don’t want to go back to that life.

 

[Cloneon]

I mean, ultimately the “value” is going to be whatever the television stations decide they want it to be. If they want to come and say “your school is only worth $3 million dollars and that’s all we’ll pay for the rights” then that’s the value, viewership be damned.

Agree. This is where 'competitive' bargaining for TV rights hits the pavement. I suspect if the networks publicize lower viewership enough people will eventually believe it. But, these numbers suggest otherwise.

 

[MeanDean]

I think the decision would have little to do with Campbell, and more to do with, as you've noted, our facilities, fan support, and general administrative support for athletics. Campbell could be gone tomorrow, and the conference membership is long, long term.

I think the decision would have little to do with Campbell, and more to do with, as you've noted, our facilities, fan support, and general administrative support for athletics. Campbell could be gone tomorrow, and the conference membership is long, long term.

But you would admit an ISU with CMC would increase the chances of continued growth in donations, fan base, football success and facilities at a more accelerated rate that whatever might occur if he leaves during upheaval. No?

 

[AlaCyclone]

Am I the only one seeing more positive numbers than what the networks want us to see? 7.2 million watched TX vs OK last year. Yes. A big number. BUT, 6.7 million watched ISU vs OR which out drew OK's bowl. More watched ISU's game against OkSt than watched Texas in their bowl. Outside of 'Red River Rivalry', I just don't get the big viewership argument.

Clearly Iowa State has 'viewership' the media outlets want us to believe isn't there.

Hopefully, Iowa State will land on the ABC / Fox Games this year and be able to show their stuff instead of always being on the ESPN / FS1 Games. To me it doesn't matter, as I get all of the channels and go to the home games, but to the average viewing fan it does. Put the best TEAMS in the Prime Slots instead of going Horns Down. Iowa State (and teams that make an effort to be good) really have a heard time breaking through that glass ceiling.

 

[AuH2O]

I mean, ultimately the “value” is going to be whatever the television stations decide they want it to be. If they want to come and say “your school is only worth $3 million dollars and that’s all we’ll pay for the rights” then that’s the value, viewership be damned.

But where do you think they get "value?" The still have to make money, and I'm pretty sure ad value is pretty dependent on viewership. Texas isn't valuable because some person arbitrarily decides they are. They're valuable because a hell of a lot of people watch their games. Now, some of that can certainly be a self-fulfilling prophecy by getting good non-con matchups and good time and network slots. But viewership factors into value for sure.

Is ISUs viewership and rising popularity enough to attract a conference? I don't know. If based on last years TV numbers, yes. I'm guessing this years will be even better. I think there's still going to be a question about if ISU can sustain that beyond this year.

Hell, last year at the same time ISU-Okie St. (Fox) out drew Notre Dame-Pitt (ABC). When ISU gets network slots they do well. Pretty much everybody drew few eyeballs playing Kansas. The game ISU really sucked in terms of TV was TCU, but I think that was FS2, coming off the Louisiana loss. Still, it didn't draw well at all. Baylor was pretty low I think as well.

ISU just needs to kick ass on the field this year, get the Jack Packed every game, get tons and tons of eyeballs on EVERY game, no matter opponent and channel, and see what happens.

 

[Tailg8er]

Agreed. Before I went to ISU, I was a Boise State fan during their Fiesta Bowl glory days. Being the big fish in a small pond was fun for awhile, until you realize that no matter how great you perform, or how many undefeated seasons you have, you’ll never be respected nationally.

I’d rather suffer through some horrible seasons and have a few great ones in a power conference, than go undefeated in a weak conference and be told that our best isn’t enough. I don’t want to go back to that life.

I see your point, but the future will most likely have 12 teams going to the playoffs every year. Even in a diluted conference, we'd at least have a chance to show we belong. That said, it's very possible our level of recruits could drop off a bit so we wouldn't actually be able to win those playoffs.. For the record, I agree that if given the option I'd prefer to get into one of the power conferences.

 

[jdoggivjc]

not a chance of getting the money that’s already contracted

You obviously don’t understand how contracts work.

 

[everyyard]

You obviously don’t understand how contracts work.

You don’t understand negotiated settlements. We will get some, but the issue will be settled for less.

 

[surly]

Hopefully, Iowa State will land on the ABC / Fox Games this year and be able to show their stuff instead of always being on the ESPN / FS1 Games. To me it doesn't matter, as I get all of the channels and go to the home games, but to the average viewing fan it does. Put the best TEAMS in the Prime Slots instead of going Horns Down. Iowa State (and teams that make an effort to be good) really have a heard time breaking through that glass ceiling.

Both undefeated would be a nice storyline.

 

[CNECloneFan]

Hopefully, Iowa State will land on the ABC / Fox Games this year and be able to show their stuff instead of always being on the ESPN / FS1 Games. To me it doesn't matter, as I get all of the channels and go to the home games, but to the average viewing fan it does. Put the best TEAMS in the Prime Slots instead of going Horns Down. Iowa State (and teams that make an effort to be good) really have a heard time breaking through that glass ceiling.

The stakes are really high this year.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Or you could show up at 9:30 and go into the stadium.

Tailgating is almost as fun as the game itself. In fact some years that is all we had. Saw a lot of bad football over the years.

 

[Deleted member 51515]

JFC we’re not going to be in the MAC, shut the **** up.

I'm sorry...I have re-read my post. I didn't anticipate you or others taking it so literally when I said MAC. Poor writing on my part. I should have said non P4. I can see why you were so upset by my direct statement of the MAC conference.

 

[Deleted member 51515]

Yeah it's either a troll job, an attempted veiled insult, or someone that just doesn't quite know what they are talking about.

Time will tell. The same is true of the hawkeyes.

 

[Die4Cy]

Just so I understand things clearly, the grant of rights and conference bylaws:

1. Ensures that whether all the teams are still here or not, the full value of the TV deal is paid to the conference for the full term of the deal.

2. Provides that as soon as a member opts to leave the Big 12, they are no longer a voting member for the period until they leave.

3. Requires a penalty be paid by parties who wish to leave the deal that is based upon the TV partner's "look in" provision when conference membership changes, to make up for any losses the conference has when those teams leave. This is to ensure that whatever cost the conference takes for losing the team(s) is borne by those teams.

4. The only way around these contractual obligations to the Big 12 is in a case where the Big 12 members vote by a supermajority to take a torch to the whole deal.


Is my understanding of this accurate?

 

[Deleted member 51515]

You are correct that neither ISU or Iowa or well positioned IF things head the way of a select 30-40 team league. But then again, I very strongly believe that no college team will ultimately do well in that scenario, and it will take only about 5 years from that point and college football will be a very niche sport, and financially will start a decline as well. One of the big mistakes people are making is seeing that the contracts for media are still very large, but need to understand that 1. Attendance pre-COVID most places was dropping, 2. Last year viewership absolutely tanked in CFB, 3. Every football product non-NFL and non-college football has been an absolute and utter failure. 4. Participation in football in youth and HS has been absolutely plummeting for years.

MLB teams are making TONS of money, but nobody in their right mind would think that MLB is healthy right now.

It is a simple matter of product differentiation. CFB is a very different product from the NFL, and that is a requirement for it to be successful. If you make a league that is essentially an NFL but with less talent and skill, it is going to ultimately fail. Same goes for college basketball, but I think a lot of people in CBB seem to get this.

But people are right to call you out on thinking ISU is going to be relegated to the MAC. A team that in a 7-6 year (2019) was 21st in the nation in attendance, and had the TV viewership ISU did last year has far too much value to be in the MAC, MWC, or be absorbed by the AAC. That's why the ESPN plan was so ******* stupid. The remaining Big 12 teams at worst are absorbing the best of the AAC. That's worst case scenario, unless this sort of NFL-lite plan kicks into action in the next couple of years.

I appreciate your well written response. I directly state the MAC in my post. I did not intend for it to be taken so literally. Much like JP said years ago when he referenced the MAC. I don't think anyone took his statement to be literally the MAC conference. I should have been more general and less specific.

 

[OnlyCyclones]

I appreciate your well written response. I directly state the MAC in my post. I did not intend for it to be taken so literally. Much like JP said years ago when he referenced the MAC. I don't think anyone took his statement to be literally the MAC conference. I should have been more general and less specific.

I believe he referenced the MWC. Not that it matters, but I accept your apology, for lack of a better word.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I believe he referenced the MWC. Not that it matters, but I accept your apology, for lack of a better word.

I don’t. It’s a Hawk troll taking a jab and backtracking. **** that dude.

 

[Deleted member 51515]

I believe he referenced the MWC. Not that it matters, but I accept your apology, for lack of a better word.

thank you! Your clarification on MWC helps me understand why I received such and adverse reaction on this board. It was stupid on my part, but honestly not intended to suggest ISU would go to MAC.
I appreciate your polite response and clarification. It will help prevent me from making such an ignorant and uneducated statement in the future.

 

[Deleted member 51515]

I don’t. It’s a Hawk troll taking a jab and backtracking. **** that dude.

cyrocks - I see why you think that but it is truly not the case. Ignorant…yes. Intentional…. No. Why would a troll back track if they were intending to take a jab at you. Iowa is going to be in the same boat at some point.

you don’t owe it to me to accept my apology. My best to you and your family.