The Big 12 has had enough of the Worldwide Leader In Sports.
Earlier this week, Oklahoma and Texas officially notified the Big 12 that they will not be renewing their grants of media rights after their expiration in 2025, according to a joint statement released by both schools.
“Providing notice to the Big 12 at this point is important in advance of the expiration of the conference’s current media rights agreement,” the statement said. “The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements. However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future.”
On Wednesday, the Big 12 reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to ESPN and laid out why they were doing it:
“Breaking: The Big 12 has sent a “cease and desist” letter to ESPN. The letter demands ESPN end “all actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference’s existing members…. 1/2
or any NCAA conference regarding the Big 12 conference’s members, possible conference realignment or potential financial incentive or outcomes related to possible conference realignment.”
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As with any sports related news, ESPN and their host of shows have talked about Texas and Oklahoma and the likely outcomes. Clearly, they have been watching and are not liking what they are saying.
Just hours after Texas and Oklahoma formally requested membership in the SEC, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the action by the two schools “verifies” the wheels were in motion to this day for months.
