UM/OSU Play Role in Texas & OU to SEC Delay

Future games (24-27) including Texas' home-at-homes with Michigan and Ohio State and the TV broadcasting of these games is factoring into the delay of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

Ross Dellinger wrote in SI Yesterday:

On July 21, 2021, news broke that Texas and Oklahoma were planning to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC starting in ’25.

After the college football universe overcame the shock and awe of the news, it collectively cast doubt on the timing of the move: No way they’ll stay in the Big 12 for four more years, right?

A year and a half later, that question remains unanswered. And the reason why is a somewhat complicated mess that involves two testy blueblood universities (Texas and OU), eight frustrated legacy Big 12 members, a pair of neighboring FBS conferences (Big 12 and SEC) and—most notably—two rival television networks.

Delinger goes on to say...

There are two key issues in any early exit from Texas and Oklahoma:

1. The grant of rights/TV contract: The two schools are contractually bound to the league through the end of the 2024–25 academic year via what is termed a grant of rights, which coincides with the league’s television deal with ESPN and Fox.
2. The 99-year agreement: In 2012, the Big 12 schools entered into a 99-year agreement to remain together, a deal that comes with an exit fee of two years’ worth of gross revenue, or about $80 million each.

Specifically our heroes (and the worst team ever) are at the center of the controversy.

The first solution that (former FOX president Bob) Thompson mentioned—a trade—has been discussed, those with knowledge of the negotiations say. That discussion centered around Texas’ future non-conference games against Michigan and Ohio State. The Longhorns are scheduled to host Michigan in 2024, play at Ohio State in 2025, host Ohio State in 2026 and play at Michigan in 2027.

An inventory trade of some sort—Fox gets a game that ESPN would own—was an option. That trade was denied.

That said, one source claims negotiations “are not dead” and that there still exists a window. “Generally speaking, everybody wants it to happen,” the person said.

The two networks have been at odds for years, each maneuvering behind the scenes to amass the most lucrative college football inventory and talent. The latest blow came at ESPN’s expense, when the network was cut out of the Big Ten’s new television package. Fox not only owns the biggest piece of that package but the network’s executives were integral in a process that saw its most significant rival eliminated.

Neither network wants to appear that it has taken a loss in this arrangement.

Followed by:

Another solution that has been discussed: Texas and Oklahoma playing road games at legacy Big 12 programs that, in theory, Fox would broadcast. Would that solve the inventory issue?

“I could see that happening and I could see Fox agreeing with that,” says Thompson.

But it’s not so easy. Big 12 schools, as well as Texas and Oklahoma, would have to rearrange schedules. The Sooners and Longhorns might want that agreement to be a home-and-home as well. Will their conference mates agree to such? It’s unclear.

In the end, it looks like it's just hurt feelings and giant stacks of cash in the way of Texas and OU making their early departure. 

It's an interesting read, check it out if you have time.