The Score
The Big Ten is finalizing media rights deals with Fox Sports, CBS, and NBC, sources told Brett McMurphy of Action Network.
Once finalized, this will mark the first time in 40 years that ESPN won't have the rights to Big Ten football and basketball games. ESPN pulled out of talks after rejecting a final offer from the conference of a seven-year deal worth $380 million annually, reports John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal.
Fox locked up Big Ten rights months ago, and the conference is now prioritizing exclusive windows during negotiations, which could result in a Saturday slate with a noon ET game on Fox, a 3:30 p.m. contest on CBS, and a prime-time tilt on NBC, reports The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach.