Boise State Football: One Big Reason Boise State Should Stay in the Big East

The latest news out of the ACC should give the Boise State Broncos all the motivation they need to remain committed to the Big East. Recently it was reported in the Chicago Tribune and various other media outlets that the ACC penned a 15-year $3.6 billion television contract with its main partner ESPN.

The ACC deal means that each member school will receive $17.1 million per year according to that same Chicago Tribune report which credits the Associated Press for the contract specifics.

So how does the ACC deal relate to the Broncos joining the Big East in 2013?

The BigEast.org website reported some interesting numbers when Boise State was added to the trouble conference along with SMU, Houston, Central Florida and San Diego State. The quote from that article reads as follows;

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The addition of these five new marketplaces boosts the number of the BIG EAST’s potential TV households by more than six percent and up to 28 million. Four different time zones will also allow the Conference and its television partner the potential to schedule four games on a given Saturday back-to-back-to-back-to-back without any overlap. It is a powerful model and one that will be unmatched by any other conference.

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When you think about the sheer number of television sets the Big East now has the potential to reach, it is absolutely mind boggling. However, it doesn't stop there.

With the addition of Memphis in 2013 and Navy in 2015 in football, the Big East added another estimated three million households. In an official statement released by the Big East just after Memphis was accepted into the conference, the massive television details are laid out. Here is an excerpt from that statement;

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The addition of Memphis, along with the five schools announced in December and Navy, will boost the BIG EAST's television reach to more than 31 million homes, which is nearly 28 percent of all U.S. television households. Thirteen conference members will be located among the top 30 television markets and 17 will be in the top 50.

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If that doesn't make you say wow, then you don't understand the power of the almighty television household.

Simply put, the Broncos are about to be part of the largest television footprint in college football. Now, that does not mean that they will receive the type of money the ACC schools recently received, but you can bet it is far, far more than what is available by staying in the Mountain West.

The Mountain West television deal currently pays the Broncos a reported $1.4-$1.9 million per year while the old Big East deal currently pays $3.7 million per school. However, it is that latter number that is set to go up significantly while the Mountain West can expect no major increase after the major losses of BYU, Utah and TCU.

The North County Times out of San Diego recently reported that the new Big East television deal is going to be worth as much as $10 million per year to each of the football playing members. "A group of 10 media consultants estimated the Big East's new TV deal could pay each school between $6.4 million to $10 million annually," Jim Sterk said.

It is important to note that this estimate was without the addition of Memphis and Navy. So it is anyone's guess how much more the contract could be worth.

This is a no-brainer for Boise State officials which is probably why they are seeking help from the Big East in placing their Olympic Sports in another conference. What that looks like is anyone's guess, but the simple request for help is a good indication that the Broncos are not interested in returning to the Mountain West.

The bottom line is the bottom line. The amount of money that would come into the university would be far more as a member of the Big East than a member of the Mountain West. That much needed revenue will not only allow Boise State to upgrade its sports facilities and football stadium, but it is much needed cash in a time of growth and vision for the entire school.

President Bob Kustra has a vision of transforming Boise State into a "metropolitan research university of distinction". This can be done much more efficiently and effectively when the money is there to do what is needed.

Boise State gets criticized for many things. Academics and strength of schedule seem to be the most popular targets over the last decade. Joining the Big East, the Broncos make strides in both directions.