My opinion is that the next writer that impresses me with his grasp of economics, specifically the economics of TV contracts for College Football, would be the first. That throws Dennis Dodd in there with Mike DiMauro as being wholly clueless & jumping at some source's view of things.
I think this is a very complex game now. Losing SU & Pitt (and then TCU) ... picking up Boise et al & widening to a National conference ... Losing Rutgers ... Then Louisville. NONE OF THAT IS ENCOURAGING. But, you are left with one thing ... YOU are talking to 6 Networks; 3 of whom are desirous of your content. This is special & a little bit of a Bubble economics. And, don't forget that the BE Hoop is a lever to use. Nelson Muntz is right (one of his upside comments): the MWC today is not viable contract wise. The Big East will be able to pay 3-5 times what that situation is. Could the MWC just collapse its entire structure & start over again? Also ... while its fun ... GREAT FUN ... for some of you to state that this is CUSA with UConn/Temple. It ain't. It is a far more lucrative time. But, let's face it: we just went from a $10-12m expectation to something 25-40% less with merely the loss of Rutgers & Louisville. In the long run, you can't compete when we are bringing in $6m or so & Rutgers is projected (by Thamel) to get $40m in 2016.
Aresco still has my confidence to get a final structure; but, it is a truly confounding swirl. We are essentially the OTHER league (until the ACC further implodes). We can FILL TVs with reasonable Brands at a far lower number. What does that buy you? I think you have the ability to be the OTHER Programming. That's not 15 teams sharing $60m as this is presented; rather, I think this is 16-20 Teams each worth $6-8m. I simply cannot conceive that having NEW markets dilutes the share that a UConn gets. If you are able to claim Louisiana Cable or Colorado Cable or San Joaquin Valley Cable, you bring that number higher; you don't dilute. And you consider a fully engaged league that increases your total by your Marginal Incremental Revenue. YOU can virtually add any University you choose & grab an incremental share higher. And, reduce the other 4 Conferences to really fringe.