The best chance for long term stability for OSU and WSU is to join the Big 12… in all sports. Not some repackaged Pac or Mountain West reconfiguration, nor the ACC. To remain as Powers, something with another big time conference, like the Big 12 (most logical) must become a thing. The schools should keep the dialogue going. This is not dogging on anyone, these are facts.
The best chance for long term stability for OSU and WSU is to join the Big 12… in all sports. Not some repackaged Pac or Mountain West reconfiguration, nor the ACC. To remain as Powers, something with another big time conference, like the Big 12 (most logical) must become a thing. The schools should keep the dialogue going. This is not dogging on anyone, these are facts.
But the B12 first has to want WSU and OSU. That has been the problem. In revenue sports the schools don't want to share the pot and the networks don't want to increase the size of the pot. This not a problem in non-rev
OSU and WSU just cut a deal w/CW and Fox. Maybe its $9M or so for each. Whatever. Accept this amount for now (live off Pac 12 money) until the Big 12 TV deal is up. Bring the added inventory to Big 12 w/CW games and it can work.
Big 12 also has its own identity crisis. As it stands now, no casual fan is going to be watching Big 12 on the Pacific Coast. Its a whole untapped market right now. Fox/NBC/CBS have some Big 10 schools. Fox also has MW, that it shares w/CBS. ESPN has nothing on thw west coast for a late window right now (save for AZ schools for part of the year before the time changes) Unless, of course, Utah, BYU, and AZ schools do a 8:30 PM local time kick off. They hate this.
I don't know that ESPN really cares though. They didnt even participate in the OSU/WSU offer. ESPN also played games w/OSU ladies during the NCAA tournament. ESPN is not a friend.
I think the TV numbers next season for the Big12 will be interesting. What will be the highest rated games? BYU? Utah? Houston? There will be Prime Bump when Colorado is involved I suppose. But, which program will end the season with the highest viewership?
WSU has had some good viewership in recent years. But, OSU may still not be able to make a case if both OSU/WSU are being evaluated by the Big12?
Of the 50 games in 2023 that broke 4 million viewers, 45 were played on Saturdays. Networks consider 4 million threshold as premier. Here were 37 most popular viewing windows for Saturday regular season games:
CBS 3:30 p.m. — 10 games
FOX noon — 8 games
ABC 7:30 p.m. — 7 games
ABC 3:30 p.m. — 5 games
ESPN 7 p.m. — 4 games
NBC 7:30 p.m. — 3 games
Those are Eastern Time. So, the latest kickoff was 4:30 pm PT.
OSU had 2 games over 4 million. Washington at OSU, OSU at Oregon.
Chris ESPN also has the Cal and Stanford home games for the late night window. The two AZ schools are on Pacific Time for 10 of the 14 weeks of the season and ESPN will certainly put their November games and/or games played at BYU, CU, Utah in the late night window. Last year both BYU and CU had 3 home games start at 10:00 PM or later eastern time.
You are right that Cal probably won't draw unless they have a decent opponent . That is why I think the four corner schools, who complained mightily about the late starts in the Pac 12, plus BYU might find themselves with more late kickoffs in the Big 12 than they were hoping for.
UA and ASU had a Pac12 agreement TV clause that there would be no day games in September. Last year UA's first home day game was Nov. 18. In 2022, it was Oct. 29. ASU had a 3:30 on Oct. 7 in 2023. When UA/ASU didn't want "day games", I don't think they wanted to be locked into 7:30/8:00 either.
The best chance for long term stability for OSU and WSU is to join the Big 12… in all sports. Not some repackaged Pac or Mountain West reconfiguration, nor the ACC. To remain as Powers, something with another big time conference, like the Big 12 (most logical) must become a thing. The schools should keep the dialogue going. This is not dogging on anyone, these are facts.
But the B12 first has to want WSU and OSU. That has been the problem. In revenue sports the schools don't want to share the pot and the networks don't want to increase the size of the pot. This not a problem in non-rev
OSU and WSU just cut a deal w/CW and Fox. Maybe its $9M or so for each. Whatever. Accept this amount for now (live off Pac 12 money) until the Big 12 TV deal is up. Bring the added inventory to Big 12 w/CW games and it can work.
Big 12 also has its own identity crisis. As it stands now, no casual fan is going to be watching Big 12 on the Pacific Coast. Its a whole untapped market right now. Fox/NBC/CBS have some Big 10 schools. Fox also has MW, that it shares w/CBS. ESPN has nothing on thw west coast for a late window right now (save for AZ schools for part of the year before the time changes) Unless, of course, Utah, BYU, and AZ schools do a 8:30 PM local time kick off. They hate this.
I don't know that ESPN really cares though. They didnt even participate in the OSU/WSU offer. ESPN also played games w/OSU ladies during the NCAA tournament. ESPN is not a friend.
I think the TV numbers next season for the Big12 will be interesting. What will be the highest rated games? BYU? Utah? Houston? There will be Prime Bump when Colorado is involved I suppose. But, which program will end the season with the highest viewership?
WSU has had some good viewership in recent years. But, OSU may still not be able to make a case if both OSU/WSU are being evaluated by the Big12?
Both OSU and WSU have similar numbers.
Of the 50 games in 2023 that broke 4 million viewers, 45 were played on Saturdays. Networks consider 4 million threshold as premier. Here were 37 most popular viewing windows for Saturday regular season games:
CBS 3:30 p.m. — 10 games
FOX noon — 8 games
ABC 7:30 p.m. — 7 games
ABC 3:30 p.m. — 5 games
ESPN 7 p.m. — 4 games
NBC 7:30 p.m. — 3 games
Those are Eastern Time. So, the latest kickoff was 4:30 pm PT.
OSU had 2 games over 4 million. Washington at OSU, OSU at Oregon.
WSU had 1: WSU at Washington
Chris ESPN also has the Cal and Stanford home games for the late night window. The two AZ schools are on Pacific Time for 10 of the 14 weeks of the season and ESPN will certainly put their November games and/or games played at BYU, CU, Utah in the late night window. Last year both BYU and CU had 3 home games start at 10:00 PM or later eastern time.
I agree. Missed that.
That's maybe 1 game a week from those 2 teams from home.
I don't think Cal will hold a national audience week after week
You are right that Cal probably won't draw unless they have a decent opponent . That is why I think the four corner schools, who complained mightily about the late starts in the Pac 12, plus BYU might find themselves with more late kickoffs in the Big 12 than they were hoping for.
BYU has already complained about late kickoffs. It takes them into Sunday local time and that's kind of an issue for them.
UA and ASU had a Pac12 agreement TV clause that there would be no day games in September. Last year UA's first home day game was Nov. 18. In 2022, it was Oct. 29. ASU had a 3:30 on Oct. 7 in 2023. When UA/ASU didn't want "day games", I don't think they wanted to be locked into 7:30/8:00 either.
Absolutely. I went to ASU and we played a day games against Nebraska in September and it was too much. Too hot. Players, fans had grat stroke.
Never did that again. It's just too got then