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The Future Is Bright For The Big 12 Conference And Here Are Five Reasons Why That's A Fact

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Football

The Big 12 Conference is one of the most competitive leagues in college sports, and quite frankly, it has a bright future ahead of it. Real quick, we are taking a look at five reasons why the Big 12 Conference will succeed going forward.

And let's be real, there are a lot more than five reasons.

  1. New TV deal: The Big 12 Conference recently signed a new six-year media rights agreement with ESPN and Fox Sports worth nearly $2.3 billion, which will take effect after the current media rights agreement expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. This deal will provide stability and security to the conference, which will help expand its brand and future earning potential.

  2. Strong viewership: The Big 12 Conference ranks third among all conferences in average viewers per game this season with 1.78 million, only behind the SEC (3.36 million) and the ACC (2.64 million). This strong viewership is a testament to the quality of play in the league and its ability to attract fans to tune in.

  3. Expansion: The Big 12 Conference is HOT, adding four new members with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF  this year. And next season will see Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12. This expansion will help to increase the conference’s footprint and make it more competitive across all of college sports.

  4. Geographic diversity: The Big 12 Conference has a diverse geographic footprint that spans from West Virginia to Texas, and soon to even farther West. This diversity helps to attract fans from different regions and provides opportunities for new rivalries to develop. But it all comes down to money, and a national conference footprint means the ability to gain national sponsorships, and bring in more cash.

  5. Strong programs: The Big 12 Conference has several strong programs that consistently compete at a high level throughout college sports. These programs include Kansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia, among others. Their success on the field and hardwood help to attract fans and build the conference’s reputation.

In conclusion, the Big 12 Conference has a bright future ahead of it due to its new TV deal, strong viewership, expansion plans, geographic diversity, and strong programs. We didn't even touch on the Big 12's history of national championships, Heisman Trophies, and domination in men's basketball. That's just the icing on the cake for a league that's already living the sweet life.