Don't be surprised to see ESPN make a strong push to gain PAC brands in XII fold,
ESPN now has 3rd tier rights to ACC/ SEC & XII schools, plus Ivy League & G5 leagues:
& as recently ESPN offered to carry PACN on new deal into the 2030's/ Larry Scott said no...
Technically, OU 3rd tier is branded, at this point by Fox, but no longer owned by Fox...
As Disney purchased the Fox RSN's as part of deal that gained 21st Century Fox deal...
Ironically, the (former) Fox RSN's might be bought by the likes of Charter/ MLB, or Ice Cube's "Big3":
So, don't be surprised to see ESPN use the signing of 3rd tier rights with XII brands
as a tool that could help "move brands around" in the event PACN equity sale fails,
as currently, Oklahoma - $52m. per yr./ Texas - $59m. per yr., out-earn not only both
SEC @ $41m. per yr, but B1G @ $51m. per yr... Keep in mind, USC, the "king" of PAC
brands, is behind XII "kings" OU & UT on average between $20 to $25+ million less
than the #RedRiverRivals, not only that, but USC/ UCLA earn less than TCU & Kansas...
(If ESPN could orchestrate a merger), Look for XII brand West Virginia to place in ACC...
A possible division alignment gives option for east/west, or north/south in *PX6/SWC:
or
*(vs the alternate option):
Total in division travel amount: 4,660.5 miles/ average in division travel amount: 665.7 miles per opponent...
B1G west division, from Norman to the campus of:
Oklahoma - *
Texas - 6 h 9 min. (371.9 mi)
Nebraska - 6 h 35 min (450.3 mi)
Iowa - 9 h 32 min (674.5 mi)
Minnesota - 11 h 23 min (804.2 mi)
Wisconsin - 12 h 21 min (854.2 mi)
Northwestern - 11 h 58 min (810.7 mi)
Illinois - 10 h 13 min (694.7 mi)
That's putting a real financial strain on the common fan on away trips (not counting for traveling visitors to Austin/ Norman)...
What about when one of the 7 schools (50% of B1G) with lower football attendance than Oklahoma State travels to Austin/ Norman..?
As 3 B1G west foes: Minnesota/ N'Western/ Illinois, & 4 B1G east foes: Indiana/ Purdue/ Maryland/ Rutgers, half the league...
And the issue of how much farther travel is in potential B1G east division/ Texas would travel even farther than OU in B1G west...
Total in division travel amount: 7,481.3 miles/ average in division travel amount: 1,068.7miles per opponent...
B1G west division, from Austin to the campus of:
Texas - *
Oklahoma - 6 h 9 min. (371.9 mi)
Nebraska - 12 h 44 min (822.2 mi)
Iowa - 15 h 43 min (1,046.4 mi)
Minnesota - 17 h 32 min (1,766.1 mi)
Wisconsin - 18 h 30 min (1,226.1 mi)
Northwestern - 18 h 7 min (1,182.6 mi)
Illinois - 16 h 22 min (1,066 mi) *(And those are the in division games, not the B1G east; but B1G west "rivalries"... That's a lot of altering for a bump in tv revenue)...
Just a few things to factor along with ability of knowing UT & OU would average playing at B1G east schools of UM/MSU/tOSU/PSU 1x (maybe 2x) per decade...