Utah fans have some changes to look forward to this season as the Utes make the move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. With a new media deal in place, fans will have the opportunity to watch their team on familiar channels, but there are some broadcast changes to be aware of.
The Big 12 Conference recently signed a lucrative media deal with ESPN and Fox worth nearly $2.3 billion. This deal will reportedly pay out $31.7 million per year to each school in the conference starting in 2025. The current media deal, which runs through the 2024-25 academic year, is also with ESPN and Fox, both longtime partners of the Pac-12.
For the upcoming season, the majority of Utah’s football games will be broadcast on the ESPN and Fox family of networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, Fox, and FS1. However, there are a few exceptions, such as games against Baylor and UCF airing on Fox, and the matchup against Arizona State on ESPN. The season opener against Southern Utah will be available for streaming only on ESPN+.
One game that won’t be on the ESPN or Fox networks is the matchup against Utah State on September 14. This game will be aired on CBS Sports Network due to the Mountain West’s broadcasting agreement with CBS. TV details for the rest of Utah’s games have yet to be announced but will likely be on the ESPN and Fox family of networks.
One significant change for Utah fans is the absence of a traditional cable network like the Pac-12 Network in the Big 12. Instead, events such as football games and other sports will be streamed on ESPN+, ESPN’s streaming service. While this means additional costs for fans who want to watch every game, ESPN+ offers nationwide availability on various devices connected to the internet.
The move to ESPN+ also means a shift in how games are produced and announced. Schools in the Big 12 will now supply announcers and produce games themselves, unlike the Pac-12 Network, which had national announcers for most games. Utah Athletics has hired play-by-play voice Bill Riley as their new director of broadcasting to oversee the production of over 50 games for ESPN+.
Overall, the transition to the Big 12 brings exciting opportunities for Utah fans to watch their team on familiar channels like ESPN and Fox. While there may be some adjustments to how games are broadcast, the move to ESPN+ offers a new platform for storytelling and increased exposure for the Utes. With a dedicated team in place to produce content for ESPN+, Utah fans can look forward to a new era of broadcasting for their favorite team.