Paul Finebaum reveals how the Big Ten media deal could impact the Pac-12

The Big Ten announced its landmark media rights deal on Thursday, and it’s all but certain to have an impact across college football. But another league is working toward a new agreement, as well, and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum explained the effect the Big Ten’s contract could have on that.

The Pac-12 is in negotiations toward a new deal, and those talks started after USC and UCLA announced their pending departures for the Big Ten. That means the league will have a presence in media markets from coast to coast, and that’s part of the reason why its agreement is reportedly worth upward of $7 billion as NBC and CBS join FOX and the Big Ten Network as broadcast partners.

But ESPN isn’t part of the Big Ten’s deal, and Finebaum said that could bode well for the Pac-12. However, he thinks that won’t be enough to create the revenue to keep up with the Big Ten. Further expansion could be on the table, especially since Finebaum doesn’t think the Big Ten or SEC are done just yet.

“I do think it brings the Pac-12 and ESPN closer together,” Finebaum said during a Twitter Spaces on Friday. “But what it really does is I think it amplifies the pressure on everyone to come up with more ways to bring in revenue, and the only way to do that is expansion. Kevin Warren’s all over Twitter today with a comment that he made in response to a question yesterday.

“But I fully believe the Big Ten and the SEC are going to expand in the short term, whether that’s two years or five years, but I think it is inevitable that we are going to see two super leagues. That’s not a shock. But I think we’re going to see the Big Ten and the SEC with 20 teams before you know it.”

Warren hinted at future expansion during an interview with HBO Sports, which is will air Tuesday. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger tweeted excerpts of the interview, including the quote from Warren.

“I could see perpetual and future growth,” Warren said.