Does ESPN Want the Big 12 To Fail?

Rumors are flying, and no one knows what is true or false. No sources are ever named. This is tabloid journalism, and the worldwide leader in sports is at the forefront.

ESPN’s Joe Schad continually reports that the demise of the Big 12 is imminent. Schad is a self-proclaimed college football expert, but he has his “finger on the pulse” of what is going on with college football realignment.

However, something stinks about ESPN’s reporting.

The headlines on the college football section concerning the Big 12 situation are doom and gloom, such as:

- Big 12 Teams To Pac-10 Is Imminent

- Huskers, Big Ten good fit

- Bidding a tearful farewell to Big 12

According to ESPN, this is a foregone conclusion that the Big 12 is already a relic. But how is it that Orangebloods.com continually reports that Texas will stay in the Big 12 and commit to a 10-team conference? The Dallas Morning News also reports that Texas will stay, as long as Texas A&M doesn’t go to the SEC.

However, none of these stories concerning the possible salvation of the Big 12 are being reported by ESPN. ESPN seems to have an agenda to break up the Big 12. Schad makes one mention of the Orangebloods.com story laced within one of his articles but offers no analysis to its validity.

It seems that the mysterious Pac-16 might be a joint venture between the conference and ESPN, much like the Big Ten Network and News Corp (FOX). If this is true, then ESPN is no longer reporting the news, but rather making it.  The Big Ten Network is majority-owned (51%) by the Big Ten Conference, with Fox Cable Networks holding a minority interest (49%).  

Texas has been privately talking about a Longhorn Network that would not be allowed in the Pac-16, but would be allowed in the Big 12.  However, this information is conveniently not mentioned in any ESPN articles.

ESPN has a history of involving itself in the games it promotes: using current athletes as analysts, using athletes in their commercials, etc. This could be the latest example of ESPN having a dog in the fight.