Boom goes college football
It's here. It's happening.
Despite a final Hail Mary, the Big 12 learned it's on the clock when Oklahoma and Texas announced they will not renew their grants of media rights when the deal is up in 2025.
That's the latest date for the overhaul of the landscape of college sports in general and college football specifically.
If I had to guess, the league and Texas and OU will explore as many ways as possible for buyouts that are satisfactory for those involved.
As we discussed, it's difficult to imagine what parts of college football will not be impacted by this. And while we all suspect that the powerhouses of Texas and Oklahoma are headed to the SEC, the Pac-12 would be foolish not to kick the tires on either, especially Oklahoma.
But then again, according to this USA Today story, an SEC with those two would generate $1.3 billion - yes, with a 'B' - annually.
Holy schnikes.
As some noted around here Monday, this will even impact the UTCs and MTSUs of the world. Will there be a place for them?
(Side note: The conversation of expanding the FCS playoffs seems asinine to me on its face. Now if, in 2025, the landscape is 64 college football big shots in Power Four conferences playing each other every Saturday and the writing on the wall is for the Cincinnatis and the UCFs to either fight for the scraps of Longshanks table of big-time college football or go to FCS, well, then maybe expanding those playoffs would make sense.)
It's impossible to know what will happen, but that does not stop us from guessing.
Fire away with your bold college football prediction for what will be the norm or SOP come 2025.
What am I missing?
I have been a fan of DeShaun Watson since he was a high school star at Gainesville, about 45 miles north of the ATL.
He was great then. He was better at Clemson. He was one of the best three or five QBs on the planet.
But how in the world is he a) in camp and b) not a much bigger story considering he's accused of more than 20 sexual assaults?
Monday, 10 women filed reports with the Houston Police Department accusing Watson of criminal activity in terms of the sexual assault allegations, which have generated civil lawsuits by 22 women.
Basically, we have two options here, right?
Either Watson is a sexual predator or these women are trying to cash in on almost two dozen false allegations. Is there an in-between option here?
And when/if Watson settles this for untold millions with a river of confidentiality agreements and no admittance of guilt, how will he be viewed?
(Side note: How the Aaron Rodgers-is-miffed-at-the-Packers storyline has generated 10 times the headlines that the Watson saga has is surreal.)
New world
Two stories that caught my eye on the new world of athletics below even the college level.
First, a high school basketball player in North Carolina has signed a Name, Image and Likeness deal reportedly worth seven figures. Seriously.
And while Mikey Williams is among the best players in the 2023 recruiting cycle, a large part of his appeal to sponsors is centered on his 5 million-plus followers on social media.
But wow, a high school junior - heck, a high schooler before his junior year even starts - with a seven-figure endorsement deal is a by-product of this new day that I was not fully prepared for.
The second is high school football dad Josh McWhorter renting a billboard in Arkansas to promote his eighth-grade son as a possible recruit for the High football program.
Again, seriously.
Here's more. And what could possibly be next?
This and that
- You know the rules. Here's Paschall on some of the Auburn veterans having high hopes for Year 1 of Harsin.
- You know the rules. Here's Hargis with his annual prep football tour as practice started in Tennessee on Monday.
- Here's today's A2 column with my thoughts on the next step for the Hamilton County Board of Education as it looks for a new superintendent.
- Tons of Olympics news around us, including Simone Biles not being part of the finals of the team gymnastics event and Naomi Osaka getting bounced in tennis. The gold medal softball game was in progress while I was typing this, but it did not look good for Team USA.
- Braves played. Braves split. Man, losing Game 2 last night 1-0 despite a great pitching performance was flummoxing. Pressure is on the Braves today against the division-leading Mets.
- Speaking of baseball, Shohei Ohtani pitched seven innings and had an RBI base hit in the Angels' 6-2 win Monday. For those scoring at home - or even if you are by yourself (hat tip Keith Olbermann, back before we knew Keith Olbermann was a complete gasbag) - he is 5-1 with 3.04 ERA and leads the majors with 35 homers. Yeah, that's worth an MVP nod even if his team finishes 20 games out of first.
Today's questions
True or false, it's Tuesday. Morning, Ern.
True or false, the US basketball team will make the gold medal game.
True or false, DeShaun Watson will settle these lawsuits.
True or false, high schoolers should be able to cash in on NIL deals.
True or false, the NL or AL MVP should only come from a team that makes the playoffs.
True or false, the Braves will be sellers at the trading deadline.
You know the drill. Answer some T or Fs, leave some T or Fs.
As for today, July 27, let's review.
Today is Bugs Bunny's birthday. He debuted on this day in 1940.
We've done a few Bugs Bunny-inspired Rushmores through the years.
What about the Rushmore of "Bugs," and be creative.