Yes, as I've already stated, I think we would not have sucked nearly as badly had we stayed in the Big 12. I think it's much more likely that the common denominator of being in the B1G and all the negative stuff that came with that is to blame than 3 coaches in a row just being bad at their job.
But, I also acknowledge that's somewhat subjective on my part, so I'm willing to set that piece of the argument aside. Even without that, I (and others) have mentioned several other aspects of being in the B1G that have sucked. And I've still yet to see one person list one thing that has been positive about it.
Don't forget the Longwhorn network. People have such fond memories of the Big 12 and seem to block out all the fighting and dysfunction. For god's sake they couldn't even get buy in on a conference TV network. Funny how schools literally bolted in every direction at the first sign of trouble. But somehow it was the greatest conference ever.
Power Five conference TV revenue for 2022 fiscal year
| Revenue | Approximate payout per school |
|---|
| Big Ten | $845.6 million | $58.8 million - x |
| SEC | $802 million | $49.9 million |
| ACC | $617 million | $37.9 to $41.3 million |
| Pac-12 | $580.9 million | $37 million |
| Big 12 | $480.6 million | $42 to $44.9 million |
It all came about because Texas wanted the Longhorn network and wanted every other school to bend over. (All Texas home games on the Longhorn network for which they got all of the money.) When schools pushed back, Texas threatened that OU and them were going to go to the PAC12. MU started looking for greener pastures and when the MU was talking to the B1G, NU said well if you are going to add other schools, "how about us?" Meanwhile, PAC12 shot down any chance of Texas having the Longhorn network if they were to join that conference so they stayed in the BIG12 so they could have their Longhorn network. The PAC12, thinking they were going to be adding UT and OU, had to end up settling for CU and UTAH.
ESPN and University of Texas Sign $300 Million Deal To Create Longhorn Network
Kris Hughes
January 19, 2011
Bevo Is Now Grazing Some Much Greener PasturesBob Levey/Getty Images
According to several reports this morning, the much rumored broadcast deal between the University of Texas and ESPN has been finalized to the tune of $300 million over 20 years to create a network exclusive to Texas Longhorns sports.
The deal will reportedly yield around $15 million a year in revenue to the Texas athletic department, already one of the most profitable in collegiate athletics, in some years bringing in as much as $90 million in revenue as a department.
As reported previously, this deal solidifies the Texas Longhorns' reputation as a self-sufficient and business-first entity, which in light of current budget difficulties in the state of Texas, may come under harsh criticism.
Could this be Texas' first step in a drive to remove itself from dependency on the major conferences and strike out as an independent?
This broadcast deal dwarfs the previously signed arrangement between Notre Dame and NBC in 1991 for $38 million dollars over five years.
Under the deal with ESPN, the network will show both men's and women's sports and will kick-off prior to the 2011 collegiate football season. In 2011, the network will feature men's football, men's basketball and women's volleyball, the three strongest programs within one of the nation's most successful athletic programs.
