Unconquered

Oh yeah, tons of debate on whether or not FSU bottom line increases substantially in the Big 12. At least I have serious doubts.

1. $20M exit fee. I don't buy that the Big 12 will pay any of this. They didn't do it for WVU, but they did give a low interest loan. Not the same thing. The best we could hope for is a lawsuit and court ruling that the exit clause was not applicable to FSU, which would be tough given that it was just signed last year.

2. 3rd tier rights may not be the windfall everyone thinks. I saw many posts that thought this would be worth $5M incrementally. It appears that may be way off base.

3. The Big 12 supporters are claiming that their new contract is going to be worth in excess of $20M without a CCG and without adding any more teams. By contrast the SEC signed a deal over a year ago worth $17M with a CCG. Numbers to not jive here. The Big 12 has less inventory (keeping 3rd tier and no CCG), has less ratings, and covers a much smaller demographic than anyone else but is going to make equal to or more than anyone else. I call BS.

4. Travel expenses for all sports and support could be a large number. $2-3M per year large.

FSU would have to make in the neighborhood of $4-5M per year more just to break even. This move is supposed to be made for a windfall of more money. I don't see it. Lots of VERY LARGE assumptions being made.

The big unknown is if this elevator clause for ACC is true or not and how that would compare with a deal the Big 12 would cut. Neither are really known for sure from what I have seen. It could change the comparisons quite dramatically.

The FSU athletic budget is over $86M. One million dollars is about 1.1% increase to the overall budget. Massive change for little overall effect.

This is not the no-brainer many here would like.

Jadaway - you seem to be having trouble seeing the forest because of the trees.

If FSU moves to the Big 12, it will happen because of the following reasons:

#1 - The new Big 12 TV deal pays $20m for Tier 1 and Tier 2 while the new ACC deal only pays $17m for Tiers 1-3.

#2 - The new Big 12 deal has escalator/re-negotiation clauses that would increase the payouts per team if "quality" schools are added to the conference.

#3 - Once the Big 12 reaches 12 teams, there will be a CCG which will bring in even more money. For reference, the Big 10 gets $2m per team per year for its CCG.

#4 - FSU will own and be able to monetize its Tier 3 games. What these are worth is tough to estimate.

#5 - The current Big 12 (not to mention a stronger Big 12) is virtually assured of receiving more money under whatever form the new BCS takes than the ACC.

#6 - Travel expenses are reimbursed by the Big 12 before TV revenues are distributed.

#7 - Academics are very important when you're talking about a single institution but mostly irrelevant when talking about an entire athletic conference.

#8 - Tier 1 and 2 revenue is split evenly in the Big 12. All schools have signed a 6 year GOR. A 13 year GOR is said to be part of the new deal.