The SEC is in its final season airing its marquee college football matchups at 3:30 PM ET. CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus says the window will remain the preeminent timeslot going forward, despite losing the conference.
Yahoo Sports college football reporter Ross Dellenger wrote a feature story about the breakup between the network and college conference. In the story, it was revealed that the decision from CBS Sports to not pro-rate its contract with the SEC with the additions of Missouri and Texas A&M was one that wore on conference decision-makers.
In its current deal, CBS Sports pays the SEC $55 million per year for the rights to the league’s top game each week. In comparison, its new deal with the Big Ten will pay the conference $350 million per year, without having the top selection each week.
CBS Sports will continue to air college football in the 3:30 PM ET window, with the Big Ten taking over for the SEC.
“I think 3:30 on CBS is the most valuable timeframe in college football,” Sean McManus said. “We will work really hard to grow the Big Ten into a national conference. The SEC has been great partners and I wish them well and hope they continue to perform well on and off the field.”
McManus told Dellenger the split between the SEC and CBS was “amicable”, before adding that the financial components of a potential extension “didn’t make sense” for both the league and network.
The new contract with the Big Ten will be one of the final deals McManus consumates before his retirement. McManus will step aside in April 2024 after leading the organization since 1996.
