Is ESPN already burying the Big Ten?
I have noticed this season that the Big Ten is increasingly an after thought of ESPN. We all knew this would come next year with the new contract, but it appears from where I sit that it is already in full swing. We are barely covered on game day and on the college final show it was not until well after the first break that they got to any Big Ten games despite OSU and Michigan being ranked 3 and 4. It was also two Big Ten games that they saved for dead last in coverage.
it will be interesting to see how this looks next year, but I suspect it will be hard to find Big Ten coverage at all next year on ESPN. I know it is not what it used to be, but I hope this does not hurt recruiting.
October 2nd, 2022 at 6:34 AM ^
Lose a game and see how much exposure we get. They won’t stop talking about it I bet.
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
Not happening. We are never going to lose again!
Go Blue!
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Very true. The SEC is trying to create an NFL farm league with Bama, UGA and whoever else steps up next to build a southern football factory. A&M (lol) was supposed to be in line - but who knows if/when another all NFL draft pick roster can be built. ESPN will hype up Clemson which they consider essentially an SEC school (same viewer demographic, geography, recruiting base).
Any loss by UM or OSU will be embraced. Midwest teams constantly being "exposed" in the playoff against superior SEC teams feeds the narrative and reality - it has become a self fulfilling prophecy. Performance wise, OSU is the real culprit here, tbf, as they are the only team that has had the talent to compete at that level multiple times over the past decade and has generally not showed up in the playoff or BCS championship games prior. - Not that I'm ever upset when OSU blows it.
ESPN $ and focus is helping to fuel this disparity and will further hurt recruiting, Ideally, FOX gets more viewership and continues to push B1G matchups and hype up the teams, helping recruiting.
The B1G west being so horrible, however, does not help the conference in that all games of significance occur in 2-3 matchups every year and the conference championship game is almost always a shitshow blowout. In the SEC, Bama had Florida and now UGA on the other side of the conference. LSU was always their SEC west rival, but the SEC championship game means something (like where both teams will get seeded in the playoff, lol). The B1G need to split up UM and OSU and then think about how to split up PSU and MSU (lol - Tucker) such that it's not half a conference.
Footnote: Adding USC hopefully helps with exposure and recruiting footprint as well as conference balance.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
Adding USC instantly makes the West better. UCLA can be good too. More importantly you move Purdue east and you add another lower level team to the East.
Parity between East and West? No. Better balance, hell yeah.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^
There is such a way to do this if you want to keep fixed divisions. Unfortunately it was the Leaders and Legends divisional set up that preceded the current geographic split. If not, then you have to go to no divisions, some form of semi-relegation where the divisions are reconstituted every so often based on competitive balance, or pods.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
Once last grievance....
If Corum played in the SEC he would have had Heisman buzz going into the season and after last week's performance against Maryland, the hype would have put him at #3 behind Stroud and Young.
I expect him to get a bit of buzz this week (people don't realize how good 130+ yards against Iowa is), and a big game next week should put him on the Heisman hype train.
October 2nd, 2022 at 6:48 AM ^
Can we imagine a world where someone else is better at covering sports than ESPN? It took me a good 3-4 years to just come here, UmHoops, and the Athletic for my sports news. Big Ten Football has a huge market. We should take our market to a competitor, or create one and let ESPN beg for our clicks...
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:13 AM ^
I NEVER go to ESPN. I usually use CBS Sports.com. They have just as much content and, unlike ESPN, it's free.
Additionally, I never watch SportsCenter either. Quit years ago. All they talk about are the same five topics every day anyways: LeBron, the Cowboys, Tom Brady, the SEC, and the Yankees.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:18 AM ^
I wish I could upvote this multiple times.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
I wish I could upvote it as frequently as the mentioned topics are discussed on ESPN.
October 2nd, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
I wish I could downvote OP's shit post as frequently as possible.
ESPN is not covering Michigan any less than normal. If anything, Michigan hasn't been interesting on a national level. The schedule is horrible for starters. The first 3 games were against 3 of the ESPN Bottom 10.
Michigan clubs baby seals and tomato cans. Film at 11. That doesn't move the needle for anyone but the fanbase.
Then when Michigan matches up against a team with a pulse in MD, Michigan struggles.
Yesterday was good.
Let's celebrate that instead of whine about announcers <-- yeah, I know, that's a very Michigan fanbase thing to do.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:21 AM ^
Same. Sportscenter used to just show highlights from all of the previous night's games. A few years ago it seemed to shift to an hour of just talking and trying to manufacture drama about athletes.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:32 AM ^
Bravo, my friends! With ESPN there is ALWAYS an agenda. I'm not talking a political agenda, but an economic one. The NHL virtually disappeared when ESPN did not have broadcast rights only to magically reappear when they did. Same thing will happen with B1G football. The Worldwide Leader my ass.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:08 AM ^
The NHL disappearance was stark - one day they covered games every night, the next I think they mentioned a Stanley Cup game score on the way to the third commercial break, or something like that. It was ridiculous...
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
ESPN is much like a bunch of whiny children. If they don’t get what they want they go home and cry.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:22 AM ^
I just go to see who’s playing when so I can plan out my viewing for the day.
But of course ESPN is shifting coverage, partly because they know their target is SEC/ACC now since those are the games they show/promote. They know they’ll continue to lose viewership/clicks from the conferences that don’t get airtime/coverage so they’re leaning into it.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:35 AM ^
s1105615, I cannot recommend this fan-run site (operated diligently and appearing in its original Paleolithic-internet-era form for over a decade) enough, for the purpose of planning your day’s viewing. Of note, the times listed are Central.
http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm
October 2nd, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Love the Paleolithic design.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:19 AM ^
Grainger, you nailed it! Plus, for me, when ESPN went full on with preaching their politics instead of covering sports, I bailed on them as well. I would love to see them fall further than they already have fallen. Seeing the large contracts and affiliations with other entities such as Fox Sports, CBS Sports and BTN etc grow gives me hope.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
So I assume you have the same views about Fox Sports and how they inject Clay Travis into their CFB coverage?
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
Who is Clay Travis?
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
The fragments of dried poo you sometimes find stuck to your anus
October 2nd, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
He is the love child of Paul Finebaum and Tucker Carlson.
October 2nd, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
Who is Clay Travis?
Ditto.
I don't watch Fox because of Urban.
But I do love me some Gus and Klatt.
October 2nd, 2022 at 6:11 PM ^
Probably
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:42 AM ^
CBS sports is also way better in analysis and coverage and without the ESPN non stop drum beat of SEC greatness since they have a financial stake in the conference success. It's been more than a decade since I watched ESPN for anything other than games or Gameday and even then, as soon as the Big Noon kickoff started, I moved to that show as soon as it comes on. At least Gameday has Desmond still promoting Michigan. You barely hear a word out of Herbstreit about Ohio State.
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
Very accurate list except replace Lebron with the Lakers. ESPN’s daily Cowboy suck off is insufferable.
October 2nd, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Any national sports show on any network uses the same formula.
This isn't just an ESPN thing. Cowherd and Fox talking heads, even national podcast/radio guys do it. Some (like Eisen) may emphasize Michigan or NY or Chicago more, but it's basically the same.
- Cowboys
- LeBron/Lakers
- Brady/Rogers
- Smattering of New York teams, 'bama/Georgia/OSU/lesser Michigan/USC/Clemson, Warriors/Nets
- General NFL, especially Steelers/Bears/Packers
- Current athlete/coach to bash. For awhile it was Harbaugh. Last year it was Meyer. Baker Mayfield
They do it because their focus groups and dailies tell them to.
October 2nd, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
I am with you on the ESPN biases. But I think Scott Van Pelt is awesome. He has been my favorite anchor for a long time. The Bad Beats segment on his show is next level entertainment, for me anyway.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:09 PM ^
The problem is radio, ESPN is in more markets and I could barely hear any update on a B1G team. It was non-stop commentator coverage of SEC games that were ongoing..
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:05 AM ^
I stopped watching ESPN years ago, shortly after they started purging the main anchors. Sunday night baseball went to shit when they dumped Kruk and Miller. Too much manufactured drama.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:32 AM ^
I gave up when they started turning all conversations into one about Tebow. Remember when Jeremy Lin blew up in the NBA? I recall a question being asked that was "is he the NBA's Tebow" because he was apparently openly christian. As if that was some monumental thing that was unheard of. That was the exact moment I stopped watching anything other than live sports on the channel.
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
This was a long overdue purge....
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
Her and Rob Parker are a match made in.........
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
Instead of sanctions, the West should threaten Putin with marriage to Jemelle Hill. That would likely immediately end the conflict. That woman is 100% the antithesis of an ideal spouse.
October 2nd, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Come on man, that photo is too scary and frightening even as we head toward Halloween. My new diet, put that photo on the fridge, will make me sick instead of hungry!
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
I go to ESPN.com for the scores and score tracking. Otherwise it's a useless website.
I am different than most of you all on the TV front tho. I never watch GameDay or SportsCenter. I don't care what most of those talking head blowhards have to say.
October 2nd, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
It used to be that you’d want to catch Sportscenter at 11:00 to see all of the scores and hot takes. Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman were funny to boot. Then the internet was invented and you no longer needed ESPN. All sports leagues will eventually have their own direct to consumer distribution. Distribution may continue for awhile because sporting events are the only events that force people to tune-in live.
collge football is going to get weird with the whole SEC vs. B1G. The NCAA should be the league but it isn’t.
October 2nd, 2022 at 6:55 AM ^
ESPN knows where the $$ is being spent. They did the same thing when NBC had the NHL contract, you would hardly see any hockey highlights or coverage on Sportscenter. Well, ESPN has hockey rights again, so boom, here are hockey highlights. ESPN is putting their investments in the best position for them.
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:04 AM ^
ESPN is no different than any other “news” site or tv station that’s supposed to cover nationally these days; stories/coverage are going to be catered towards the audience that drives the dollars. Anything else may get a passing mention and that’s probably where the Big Ten is going to be headed with ESPN.
October 2nd, 2022 at 6:56 AM ^
The Big Ten will be covered.
Watch a different channel.
October 2nd, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
You missed the point. I can find content if I am looking for it. But if you are not looking for the big ten, it will be (is) harder to find. Fox noon obviously covers the big ten, but only the big ten. So not watched by non big ten fans. It’s bad for the big ten, and honestly it’s bad for college football too.
October 2nd, 2022 at 7:11 AM ^
Fox BigNoon seems to be following M around every week so IDK, it all washes out in the end.
BUt yeah, the coverage of CFB is pretty bad these days
October 2nd, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Yeah, Fox’s coverage is very BIG-centric, especially when you get into their ancillary media. Joel Klatt has a good podcast but it almost completely ignores that the SEC has good teams in it.
I think this is what was expected, especially with the new TV deal. On the one hand since BIG/SEC fans now only have an individual primary network, those networks have to cater to that market, but also grow within that market, which creates a vicious cycle excluding the other conference.
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
I came here to post the same thing. Klatt is the best in the business, and I like his shows even more because he doesn’t acknowledge the SEC, much like ESPN doesn’t acknowledge the B1G.
There’s a growing divide, it’s like fox/CBS for NFL, fox pumps the NFC, CBS pumps the AFC. It’s no different, just start watching Fox. Big noon kickoff isn’t bad if you can get over Urban being on there. CBSSN Inside College Football is a good show too, it’s only aired twice a week though (I think), the midweek one is 2 hours.
October 2nd, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
Fox Big Noon has become the de-facto Michigan Football Network.
We are going to be on it like five straight times. That's crazy.
It's great that we move the dial for them, but it forces all of our games to be on at noon. It would be great to get some 3:30 games, and a night game for Penn State.
October 2nd, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
Urban Meyer - I CANNOT watch that pregame show and see his smarmy, self-entitled mug. Yes, he knows football - I don't care. I absolutely hate that guy.
Until he jumps ship for his next gig, that show is a no-fly zone for me.
It's so delicious seeing Doug Pederson immediately turn Urban's train wreck Jags into a viable NFL team.
October 2nd, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
Maybe I just have a familiarity bias, but I like the College Gameday show better than Big Noon, no offense to the almighty Charles Woodson. Urban Meyer sours it for me, a lot. Rece Davis, Desmond, the new guy (don't know his name but he seems to know his stuff), Pollack (meh, he could exit stage left whatever), the Bear and Herbstreit. Herbie gets a lot of hate around these parts, and he is not as good as Klatt on in-game color analysis, but I generally like his performances on Gameday.
I am sure Big Noon will grow on me over time.
October 2nd, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
Getting Pat Mcaffee was a coup of epic proportions for College Gameday. They essentially upgraded from Corso.
October 2nd, 2022 at 7:32 AM ^
Look what ESPN did with hockey after they stopped televising it.
Not unexpected, but probably not that huge of a deal, especially with the expanding playoff.