Big 12 sources said they expect the universities of Texas and Oklahoma to officially inform the league today that they don't plan to extend their existing media rights deals with the conference once they expire in June 2025, the first formal step in the process of leaving the league, likely for the Southeastern Conference. Jay Hartzell and Joe Harroz, the respective presidents of Texas and Oklahoma, met via videoconference with the Big 12's executive committee yesterday, but sources in the conference said they are still trying to figure out what the two schools are looking to gain. (ESPN)
Early viewership of the Tokyo Olympics across the networks and digital platforms of Comcast Corp.-owned NBCUniversal has been historically soft, including Friday's opening ceremony, which with a total average audience of around 17 million viewers between the live and tape-delayed telecasts is likely the least-watched on record for a Summer Games. (Sports Business Journal) The first night of competition Saturday also appeared soft: NBC said coverage across NBC, USA, NBCSN and CNBC drew 15.3 million viewers, down from 23.5 million for the comparable evening during the 2016 Rio Games and 24.2 million for the comparable evening during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games. (Sports Media Watch)
Tokyo Olympic organizers said they do not plan to reschedule more events based on the approach of tropical storm Nepartak, which could bring heavy rain to the Japanese capital city tomorrow, after rowing events scheduled for today were moved up to yesterday and races scheduled for tomorrow were pushed to later in the week. Among the events potentially threatened by the storm, which comes on the heels of intense heat that has burdened athletes over the first several days of the games, are Tuesday's two medal games for softball. (Reuters)
Big 12 officials discuss extra revenue shares for Texas, Oklahoma as enticement not to leave for SEC Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports
Big 12 officials have discussed a structure in which Texas and Oklahoma would receive additional revenue shares as a way of enticing the two schools to remain in the conference rather than pursue a future in the SEC, conference sources have told CBS Sports. Such a structure would grant the Longhorns and Sooners an additional half-share annually (1.5 shares each), bumping their payouts to approximately $56 million per year.
Amid Big 12 instability, West Virginia could look (again) to the ACC for a landing spot Nicole Auerbach and G. Allan Taylor, The Athletic
Multiple sources indicated to The Athletic that the ACC would be West Virginia's preferred destination, assuming it ultimately chooses to leave the Big 12 and interest is reciprocated from the ACC. A potential move to the ACC would return the Mountaineers to a league based on the East Coast, significantly decreasing athletic department travel costs and reinstating one of college sports' best natural rivalries between WVU and Pitt.
The case for the AAC to go on the conference realignment offensive with the Big 12 in flux Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic
What has become apparent over the past 48 hours is that the AAC does not expect to sit back and wait for its best teams to field interest from elsewhere. The AAC plans to act as an aggressor, multiple high-ranking sources within the conference tell The Athletic. It will try to poach the Big 12's leftovers, perhaps as a group.
As NCAA probe expands, Arizona State places TEs coach Adam Breneman on administrative leave Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports has learned that Mark Strothkamp, a veteran of NCAA enforcement, is looking into alleged recruiting violations. The first personnel move tied to the Arizona State case has occurred, as sources told Yahoo Sports that ASU tight ends coach Adam Breneman was placed on paid administrative leave on July 16.
Oklahoma QB using NIL freedoms to get paid for autographs at convention Liz Mullen, Sports Business Journal
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, the Heisman Trophy favorite and a potential No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, is cashing in on name, image and likeness opportunities with plans to sign autographs at the National Sports Collectors Convention later this month. The National, as it is known, is a 41-year-old annual event that regularly features hall of fame members from all the major sports signing autographs.
College NIL Market's Top End Is Likely $600K Despite Saban Claim John Wall Street, Sportico
University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban recently divulged that his quarterback Bryce Young-who has yet to start a college game-had already signed "almost seven figures" worth of deals tied to his name, image and likeness. If true, it is a staggeringly high data point in an NIL marketplace that has largely underwhelmed thus far.
