Reply #12: from what I'm reading, a big chunk is coming from

[fishwax]

networks that agreed to overpay for the Big Xii because that was the only way to hold off a chain reaction of expansion that would have cost them exponentially more. Compared to the money they would have to shell out for a Pac 1x conference that covered 9 of the country's top 20 television markets, to say nothing of the fact that they would then have to renegotiate television contracts with the SEC, ACC, etc. (because those conferences would attempt to expand to keep up, thus triggering renegotiation clauses in their current contracts), bumping up the money they give to the Big Xii is small potatoes. Of course, the revenue need only be divided ten ways now instead of 12, so a contract only has to be about two-thirds bigger in order to double everyone's revenue.

Plus, Nebraska and Colorado have to pay penalties to get out of their Big XII contracts. This will amount to up to 20 million dollars off the top (most of which will go to OU, Nebraska, and A&M, since the five schools that would have been left out have agreed to forgo their share). And, finally, the Big Xii is apparently entitled to a substantial share of CU's and NU's revenues for the next couple of years--meaning that the remaining schools will divvy up most of CU's/NU's share of not only the Big XII contract next year, but also their share of the Pac-10/Big 10 money the year after that.

Of course, the money may not shake out like projected. As I've said, I'm skeptical. If it falls substantially short of that, then clearly some schools (Texas included) have made a very bad decision. UT/OU/A&M have some insurance in the form of the guaranteed money from the NU/CU buyouts.