As the SEC officially moved invite to Texas and Oklahoma Thursday, we are left to wonder is this the end of college athletics as we know it. One entity has the ability to save it or destroy it. It’s certainly not FOX sports, or any other Television entity, it’s ESPN.
It’s always been ESPN who control the college football playoffs, the bowls, 2 of the 4 major conferences (SEC, ACC) and have footholds in the other two (Pac 12, Big 10).
Obviously ESPN can’t control every decision a conference or teams make, but they can have a big influence.
Back in 2011 the Boston College AD said ESPN told the ACC what to do for conference expansion.
Big 12 AD Bob Bowlsby says ESPN was plotting with another league to lure the leftovers of the Big 12 to another conference.
Where will it end? Is this the future?
New conference realignment 2021 pic.twitter.com/7gWoLo3pFW
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) July 24, 2021
Everyone realizes when that back in the 1980s when Television Contracts were negotiated centrally by the NCAA,
The SEC is sure to have a financial windfall from their new additions. I’m not arguing the SEC will normally pull the highest ratings, but here’s a warning to ESPN of allowing the SEC to get too powerful. What was the lowest rated College Football National Championship game of the last decade? Alabama vs LSU in 2012, while the highest was Ohio State vs Oregon in 2015.
ESPN can certainly add value to the ACC’s deal, or put together a package that could entice Notre Dame ensuring the ACC’s future. They can price out scheduling agreements between Big 10, Pac 12, and ACC. Increase package values for more conference games. They certainly will be involved with the playoff proposal and negotiations, and influence the direction.
As recently as last year the ACC Championship between Clemson and Notre Dame was the highest rated conference championship in college football, while the SEC Championship had their lowest ratings in 14 years.
Nobody wants to watch the SEC invitational playoffs and the numbers bear it out. If ESPN thinks regionally and with one just conference in mind, rather than nationally it will only be short term win. Eventually the strategy will backfire. The rest of the country outside is pretty big outside of the 16 school SEC, and people will tune out.
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