Most of that revenue comes from the Big 12′s TV deals, including ESPN. The Big 12 distributed $345 million to its 10 members this year ($34.5 million apiece), down from the previous year because of the pandemic. Bowlsby said the TV contract value would take a 50% hit. Texas lawmakers dug into the future of the Big 12 without the Sooners and Longhorns. I think it’s because they felt too little of themselves.” ”My humble opinion: I completely disagree. “Many of my colleagues around the country believe that the University of Texas created this situation because they think so highly of themselves,” Rhoades said. “Maybe your fanbase would rather lose to Alabama than TCU,” she said.īaylor athletic director Mack Rhoades, who said his school’s athletic budget is 48% of Texas’, was even harsher in his criticism of the Longhorns during testimony. Lois Kolkhorst noted the Longhorns had only won three of the last 10 games against her alma mater, TCU. Hartzell was also on the receiving end of some needling from lawmakers.Īfter Hartzell said Texas’ athletic budget was between $220-$225 million per year - one of the largest in the country - Sen. He said the idea of joining other conferences such as the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 was considered internally, but Texas never contacted those leagues. Hartzell said Texas initiated contact with the SEC, reaching out to the conference in the spring. Hartzell was asked whether the school had included ESPN in its conversations about moving to the SEC and said: “Absolutely, categorically, no.” It’s in neither party’s best interest to do so.” He also accused ESPN of working behind the scenes to gut the Big 12, even sending a cease-and-desist letter that the cable giant refuted, but backed off that stance Monday: “We have agreed to not escalate this publicly. “Up until the moment you hit send on the decision, you are always thinking, ‘Is this the right thing for the University of Texas at Austin?’” Hartzell said.īowlsby has been highly critical of both Texas and Oklahoma, accusing them of plotting for months to leave the 10-member league for the powerful SEC.
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