Big 12 commissioner slams ESPN for role in SEC expansion, alleges conspiracy

After more than week of speculation about Oklahoma and Texas bolting for the SEC, the Big 12 has fired back.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby spoke with multiple outlets on Wednesday evening about an alleged conspiracy that ESPN is carrying out against the remaining eight members of the Big 12.

According to Bowlsby, ESPN has approached multiple universities about leaving the Big 12 and joining the American Athletic Conference.

Big 12: ESPN conspired with American to take “3-5” teams to AAC. Story up soon.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) July 28, 2021

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to AP: “I have absolute certainty they (ESPN) have been involved in manipulating other conferences to go after our members.”

The Big 12 has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN, as first reported by @PeteThamel

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 28, 2021

Per the allegation, this is because Oklahoma and Texas will not have to pay a buyout to break their Grant of Rights agreement if the Big 12 loses enough members. ESPN would also not be responsible for the final four years of its contract with the conference.

Bowlsby told AP that ESPN is incentivizing other conferences to destabilize the Big 12 so Oklahoma and Texas can get out of paying a buyout to the conference.

Story to come.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 28, 2021

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby tells @SINow that he has documented evidence that ESPN tried to encourage an unnamed conference to add Big 12 members in an effort to destabilize the league so Texas & OU could avoid exit fees.

"It is tortious interference," he says.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 28, 2021

Bowlsby: "It’s clearly them doing things that are disadvantageous to our business and I have absolute certainty that what I’m saying is factual."

— Max Olson (@max_olson) July 28, 2021

The buyout could be in excess of $75 million each for Oklahoma and Texas to leave for the SEC before the 2025 season.

Bowlsby also alleged that Oklahoma and Texas participated in the conspiracy for months while planning their exit. He says they were apart of strategy meetings that included “proprietary information” while planning their exit for the SEC.

Bowlsby on OU and Texas: "They acted the part of happy members. Had we been aware of some grievances, we would have attempted to address it. I’m sure they’ll try to get out of the exit fee and the Grant of Rights."

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 28, 2021

Bowlsby told AP Texas and Oklahoma have been working on this for months while taking part in Big 12 strategy meetings where proprietary information was being shared.
"This whole thing has been a complete articulation of deception," Bowlsby said.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 28, 2021

The Big 12 issued a cease and desist letter and asked for a written response from the World Wide Leader within the next 24 hours.

Here’s the cease and desist letter from the Big 12 to ESPN.

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby tells @AP_Sports that ESPN is incentivizing other conferences to destabilize the Big 12 so Oklahoma and Texas can get out of paying a buyout to the conference. pic.twitter.com/WlkaBuLuVv

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 28, 2021

ESPN has since responded with a statement saying the claims in the letter “have no merit.”

ESPN statement concerning claims by Big 12 in cease & desist letter:

“The claims in the letter have no merit.”

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 28, 2021

The SEC is expected to vote on Oklahoma and Texas’ potential admission to the Big 12 on Thursday.