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What the Big Ten media deal means for the Florida Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 26: A detail look of a Big Ten microphone during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 26: A detail look of a Big Ten microphone during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Word began to leak yesterday evening that the Big Ten was on the verge of signing a media rights deal with Fox, NBC, and CBS.

Notably absent from the deal was ESPN/ABC, which have broadcast Big 10 games for 41 years.

On the surface it may not mean much for the Florida Gators, but there are some potential domino effects that Florida could feel down the road.

More prime-time games for Florida?

As previously announced, SEC games are moving away from CBS and will be exclusively on ESPN starting in 2024.

Part of the ESPN deal left open a game for the 3:30/late afternoon time slot to be on ABC and opened the door for SEC games to be the prime-time game on ABC.

With the Big Ten moving away from ESPN/ABC, that’s one less conference to compete for the 8PM time slot. And with The PAC-12 and Big -12 losing teams, and the ACC trying to hold on to what they have, this will increase the likelihood the SEC is featured in the 8PM slot.

Wall to wall ESPN coverage

ESPN has this tendency to completely ignore leagues that they don’t cover.

As example 6,312, look how ESPN completely flipped their coverage of the NHL after re-obtaining TV rights.

So if you think the SEC is the only conference ESPN covers currently, just wait until they don’t have to pretend to cover the Big Ten and that space goes to the SEC.

”Anthony Richardson had toast for breakfast. What does this mean for his Heisman chances?”

Conference shuffling?

Part of the Big Ten deal is NBC being in the mix for games. The Peacock Network is making a bid to have the 3:30 time slot for games.

This may cause conflict because normally if you turn on NBC on a fall Saturday at 3:30, you are going to get Notre Dame.

Might this force Notre Dame’s hand to jump to the Big Ten?

Maybe.

But if the Fighting Irish jump, that might increase pressure on the rest of the ACC to find a new home.

We know from rumors that Clemson, Miami, and FSU have all poked around to join the SEC.

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