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Scott D. Pierce: ESPN, Fox admit manipulating the Big 12

Related Topics: Big 12 Conference, ESPN

Long story short — the Big 12's contracts with ESPN and Fox mandate those outlets up their per-season payments to the league if it adds members. Adding two teams would up the payments about $40 million per year; adding four teams would add $80 million per year through the life of the contract, which expires in 2025.

Because new members would get less than a full share of that money for several years — as was the case when Utah joined the Pac-12 — it would be a bonus to the 10 current Big 12 members, which would split the rest.