I am pumped to be making an appearance on the Inside Maryland Sports Radio podcast tomorrow to talk all things Terps, and, maybe, Big Ten media rights, too. I’m told you can listen to it live on YouTube at 8:00pm ET.

Sources: Look for Big Ten to let ESPN’s exclusive window end without a deal
ESPN has entered an exclusive negotiating window with the Big Ten to renew its rights deal. Multiple sources expect the conference to allow ESPN’s exclusive window to end so that it can take its rights to the open market. It’s not clear exactly when the exclusive window ends, but sources expect the Big Ten to secure new TV deals before the fall semester.

The reason: several other networks have expressed their interest in taking the Big Ten’s rights from ESPN. Interest from CBS, Fox and NBC virtually ensures that the conference will see a hefty increase from the $440 million that ESPN and Fox pay each year. It’s the same premise as buying a house -- prices go up when you have multiple bidders.

Just because the Big Ten is almost certain to let its exclusive window with ESPN end without a deal doesn’t mean that the conference will leave Bristol. ESPN expects to make a big push to keep conference rights to football and men’s basketball games.

Fox, which owns about half of Big Ten Network, has made it known that it wants to wind up with a bigger deal. Thanks primarily to its Big Ten deal, Fox’s noon Saturday window was the most viewed in college football this past season.

CBS and NBC also will be aggressive in trying to get Big Ten rights. By aggressive, I mean that it looks like they will come to the conference with lots of cash. CBS wants high-quality college football games to replace the SEC, which is leaving CBS after the 2023 season, and NBC is salivating over the prospects of fall Saturday doubleheaders with Notre Dame games leading into Big Ten ones.