Ohio State football: Big Ten might have a new network to call home

One of the main reasons that the Ohio State football team will have two new Big Ten opponents in USC and UCLA is because of the TV money. The Big Ten added those two programs because they can increase the value of the money they would get from the networks.

It looks like one of those networks will not be ESPN. While not confirmed yet, multiple reports have come out that CBS and NBC are the two leaders in the clubhouse to join FOX as the distributors of Big Ten games. That would end a 40-year relationship with ESPN.

There was also a report that CBS was prepared to pay $350 million for the 3:30 window for Big Ten games. If that’s true, the Buckeyes would probably play more 3:30 games in the future. I tend to think that’s better than the noon slot, but that’s just my opinion.

We still don’t know the total value of any TV deal yet. We also don’t know if ESPN is going to come back with another offer to counteract what NBC and CBS have offered. I do find it interesting that NBC would supplement the Notre Dame contract with a Big Ten contract. Could that lead Notre Dame closer to joining the Big Ten?

One thing I do know is that the final numbers for this deal are going to be astronomical. Everything I’ve heard says that this will be over $1 billion, which is a massive amount of money. If numbers and networks are leaking out this much, I’d say that the deal is pretty close to getting done.

This means that the Ohio State football team will be broadcast on a different network than you’re used to seeing, which will be incredibly odd. But in no time, I’m sure we’ll all get used to the new names and faces that broadcast the Buckeyes.