DeepSummary
In this episode, the hosts discuss the state of college football and the realignment of conferences, particularly the disbandment of the Pac-12. They interview John Canzano, a sports talk radio host, who provides insight into the reasons behind the Pac-12's collapse and the future prospects for the remaining teams, Oregon State and Washington State.
Chris Venini, a reporter from The Athletic, joins to explain the role of media deals in shaping the landscape of college football. He discusses how lucrative TV contracts have driven conference realignment, with schools moving to conferences that offer more money. The divide between the wealthier conferences like the SEC and Big Ten and the others is widening, raising questions about a potential breakaway league.
The episode explores the changing media consumption habits, the decline of cable TV, and the rise of streaming services. While streaming is seen as the future, there is reluctance from schools and conferences to fully embrace it due to concerns over visibility and recruiting. The guests also touch on the loss of tradition and rivalries as a result of the ongoing realignment.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Pac-12 conference has effectively disbanded, with only Oregon State and Washington State remaining as members.
- Lucrative media deals have driven conference realignment, with schools moving to conferences that offer more money from TV contracts.
- The wealthier conferences like the SEC and Big Ten are widening the gap with other conferences, raising questions about a potential breakaway league.
- While streaming is seen as the future of media consumption, there is reluctance from schools and conferences to fully embrace it due to concerns over visibility and recruiting.
- Conference realignment has led to the loss of longstanding traditions and rivalries, causing disillusionment among fans.
- The future of college football is uncertain, with the potential for further consolidation and the formation of a "Premier League" driven by the wealthiest conferences.
- The upcoming TV deals for the SEC and Big Ten conferences in the 2030s could be a turning point for further realignment or the creation of a breakaway league.
- The changing media landscape and the decline of cable TV have played a significant role in shaping the current state of college football.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You've got these television deals now for the SEC and the Big Ten. They go up to about the 2030s or early 2030s. Around that time, that is the next big television moment for college football. The next chance you could see realignment, consolidation, breaking away of some kind.“ by Chris Venini
- “I really do hear a lot of disillusionment in that marketplace with people going, you know, I don't want college athletics to become the NFL light. And I think the Pac-12 is just part of the picture. It's part of the casualties part of that story.“ by John Canzano
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Wondery
6/26/24
The Pac-12 was one of the most prestigious college football conferences in the nation, until its leading schools left for greener pastures with heftier media deals. Now, with only two teams left, the stakes are higher than ever for the Pac-12 to draw viewers. John Canzano, host of college sports podcasts The Bald Faced Truth and Canzano & Wilner, joins David to talk about what’s next for the teams and the sport as a whole. Later, we’re tapping in Chris Vannini of The Athletic to talk about cable television’s role in the conference shakeups, and the lucrative TV rights deals that prop up each conference.
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