Longhorn Network Live On U-verse, Confirming SB Nation Report

Replacing Mack Brown: The hunt for America's next reality TV superstar

The Longhorn Network may soon need to replace the man playing the role of Football Coach. The perfect candidate is easy to name.

Mack Brown rants about Longhorn Network: 'I didn't ask for it'

Texas head coach Mack Brown expressed his frustrations with Texas' Longhorn Network.

Longhorn Network, AT&T U-verse Have A Deal, SB Nation Reports

The Longhorn Network will be available on AT&T U-verse, as the television provider has flipped the switch to offer the University of Texas-themed sports channel as of early Friday morning -- it's now Channel 1609. Paul Wadlington of SB Nation's own Barking Carnival broke the news Thursday night, with details following shortly after from our Burnt Orange Nation.

The news is great for Texas fans, who were put in a bind by the decision to air the team's season opener against Wyoming on the ESPN-affiliated channel which many cable companies have balked at carrying. Before the deal, the Longhorn Network was only available to a very slim minority of viewers even in the Austin television market.

AT&T's cable package, on the other hand, has 6.8 million subscribers in 22 states, making the provider only the second national service to carry the network.

The Longhorn Network will also carry Texas' second game against New Mexico as well as games across 20 Texas varsity sports and is in talks to carry a third football game.

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For more on Horns football, visit Texas blogs Burnt Orange Nation and Barking Carnival, plus SB Nation Dallas.

While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation’s YouTube channel:

Texas Football: Time Warner Interested In Buying Longhorn Network, According To Report

So far, the Longhorn Network might or might not have been the success ESPN was hoping for when it agreed to pay Texas $15 million a year. You likely still don't know anybody who's actually seen it, and its infrequent emergence into regular-folks television just gets everybody all mad.

But there's apparently something there that at least one other enormous media company is interested in, specifically Time Warner. According to the Austin American-Statesman's Kirk Bohls:

But an industry source told me Time Warner is interested in trying to buy the Longhorn Network or at least partner with ESPN on the property, for which ESPN is shelling out $300 million over 20 years. Time Warner representatives at the corporate office have not returned phone calls for several weeks, and the cable provider won't even disclose the last time it negotiated with ESPN. ESPN has failed to reach any distribution agreements with major cable providers or satellite companies.

An official statement from Time Warner denied that any business has been conducted here. None of this makes any sense to me, but I am also not an important television executive.

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For more on Horns football, visit Texas blogs Burnt Orange Nation and Barking Carnival, plus SB Nation Dallas.

Longhorn Network Won't Pursue Texas Tech-Texas State Game, According To Report

Rumblings of ESPN looking to get the 2012 game between Texas Tech and Texas State onto the Longhorn Network reportedly had the Red Raiders thinking about just up and canceling the whole thing and playing 11 games. That would've meant losing money and paying a buyout to Texas State, but it would've also meant not supporting the state overlord's most overlordy project ever.

Now we might get to skip the latest bit of Big 12 drama:

I was just told LHN/ESPN will not pursue the Texas State-Texas Tech fball game that had raised blood pressure of #TTech officials.

— Chip Brown (@ChipBrownOB) June 22, 2012

It's actually a home game for the Bobcats, and since the WAC's TV rights line up such that ESPN gets this game, putting it on the Texas-centric LHN must've seemed like a good idea to somebody somehow.

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For more on Red Raiders football, visit Texas Tech blog Double-T Nation.

While we’re here, let’s watch some college football videos from SB Nation’s new YouTube channel together:

Texas Tech May Play 11-Game Season To Avoid Longhorn Network

Texas Tech is considering playing 11 games, if the Longhorn Network picks up its matchup with Texas State.

Longhorn Network A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Texas Vs. Texas A&M Rivalry Not Dead Forever, Says DeLoss Dodds

Thursday night's win by the Texas Longhorns over the Texas A&M Aggies marked the last-ever Big 12 battle between the ancient rivals, with no games scheduled for the future either. Common sense dictates that it won't be the last time the two ever play, as there's too much money and too much history at stake for both sides to just give up forever due to ego.

Here's aggrieved Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds on the continuation of the series once cooler heads prevail:

"It will be played again sometime, somewhere down the road," said Dodds before kickoff. "When and if, it will have to be the right situation. It will have to be positive for us."    

A&M has maintained throughout that, despite jumping to the SEC, it wants to maintain its rivalry with Texas. The Horns have turned up their noses and claimed they're simply too busy for the time being.

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation and Texas A&M blog I Am The 12th Man. 

Texas A&M Emails Reveal Bill Byrne's ESPN Concerns, Fondness For Nicknames

ESPN Sells Longhorn Network To America With Tantalizing Texas-Kansas Game

Longhorn Network Won't Air Any High School Athletics, According To Report

Texas' Longhorn Network wasn't going to air any high school football games after the NCAA barred them from doing so in August, but there were still questions on what coverage of high school athletics would be allowed. The NCAA had allowed a highlights show, but on Wednesday night it appears that the Longhorn Network won't even air that. According to Orangebloods.com, Texas has decided to avoid any high school content (for six years) as a means to bring peace to the Big 12.

With the Big 12's livelihood settled now that Oklahoma and Texas have decided to stay in the conference, the latter is attempting to make nice by making concessions. This is part of a broader television rights deal for the Big 12. Texas had to agree to the 13-year television rights deal that the conference already had in place last April.

It is possible this television rights deal could keep Missouri from leaving the conference, but the deal isn't likely to be finalized until Thursday.

For more Longhorns news, check out Burnt Orange Nation.

Longhorn Network To Broadcast Texas Vs. Kansas, According To Report

The Longhorn Network found a second game to broadcast, and will reportedly air a Big 12 matchup on the newly-minted home of Texas athletics. After announcing plans to air Texas' season-opening matchup with Rice, the Longhorn Network made it clear a second game was the goal. Now, it appears Kansas has stepped up to the plate.

John Ourand reported the news, including a statement from ESPN.

Big news for Longhorn Network: it found its 2nd football game. Big 12 rival Kansas will let its Oct 29 game be telecast on Longhorn Network. ESPN: "This game is approved by...Dan Beebe based upon the approval process that the Big 12 Board of Directors determined last month."

By then, the Longhorn Network may be more widely distributed. If nothing else, this should allow ESPN to ramp up the pressure on carriers, using a hungry subscriber base to workout distribution ahead of the Oct. 29 date.

The second game immediately boosts the premium inventory available on the network. While Kansas may not be considered a high-profile football program, it is a Big 12 game, and conference games are highly sought-after. If ESPN can parlay that second game into distribution deals, it will go a long way toward getting the Longhorn Network off the ground and on the air in more than a few thousand households.

For more Longhorns news, check out Burnt Orange Nation.

Longhorn Network Wants To Air Second Texas Football Game, High School Highlights

ESPN and the University of Texas' walking conflict of interest marches on, trying to only grow bigger and conflict-of-interest-ier as they reportedly aim to add a live broadcast of a second Longhorns game on Longhorn Network, and high school football highlights.

Longhorn Network is, if you don't know, a partnership between UT and ESPN to start their own TV network focusing on the Longhorns and Longhorn-related issues. As if the idea of a supposed journalistic entity partnering with an individual school doesn't scream potential disaster — what if Texas' has its own Nevin Shapiro hiding in the wings?— the network has expressed interest in broadcasting high school football games.

That idea was put to bed, albeit slowly and clumsily, by the NCAA earlier this month. I guess they finally wised up that if a college is offering recruits a chance to be seen by a national television audience, that might give them an unfair advantage over schools. 

UT and ESPN have decided to keep trying to push the envelope, however, as they discuss plans to only air highlights. I'm sure those high school kids totally wouldn't be swayed by a college only airing their best plays on national television, while simultaneously being able to show more potential recruits. No conflict there.

As far as the second television game — Texas' season opener vs. Rice will already be shown on — both schools will need to sign off on it, and, if it's a Big 12 game, so will the conference. NBC's Ben Kercheval, who broke the story, hypothesized it could be the Kansas State on Nov. 19 because KSU has its own digital broadcast network.

Obviously both of these ideas need to be approved before they come to fruition, but if LHN keeps pushing, eventually the NCAA is going to concede something, we just don't know what quite yet.

For more Longhorns news, check out Burnt Orange Nation.

Latest Texas A&M, SEC Rumor Shot Down By Beat Writers

Late Thursday afternoon, a bombshell was dropped on the Big 12. According to AggieYell.com, disgruntled conference old-timer Texas A&M officially jumped ship, hitching their wagon to the SEC.

However, at this point the announcement appears wildly premature, as multiple beat writers have made clear. Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News reports "with 100 percent certainty" that no terms have been reached. SB Nation's Team Speed Kills agreed, explaining that there are still "a few finishing touches to be done," while the Houston Chronicle's Brent Zwerneman extrapolated:

While all signs still point to Ags to the SEC, was just assured it by no means is a done deal -- plenty of issues to address.

The Texas A&M fiasco is a direct result of Texas' "Longhorn Network" -- a university-run, ESPN-funded television station that was scheduled to air high school football games. As news of the network and its obvious recruiting implications leaked out, the rift between Texas and the rest of the Big 12 grew deeper, eventually leading to the current situation. While nothing is official yet, if Texas A&M does leave the already shrunken conference, the ensuing trickle-down effect should be fascinating to watch.

For more on the Longhorn Network, check out the rest of this StoryStream, and also check out Burnt Orange Nation. For more on the Aggies, visit I Am The 12th Man.

Longhorn Network Can't Air High School Games; Everybody Happy Now?

The NCAA suddenly declaring the Longhorn Network can't show high school football games is like your dad whirling around in the driver's seat and demanding you and your siblings knock it off back there after you've already worked together to produce three black eyes, a sprained ankle, a cracked window and somehow a misdemeanor arrest. Dads are like that sometimes -- pretty much all they do is drum on the steering wheel.

How did it take the NCAA so long to finally catch wind of this? More importantly, how are we reacting to this news?

Burnt Orange Nation sees it as one invisible hand smacking another invisible hand, robbing the viewing world of its prep football coverage. Texas A&M fans, however, are just pumped about the possibility -- feasibility might be a better word -- that something might come of a regents meeting at which a move to the SEC could technically be discussed, whether the SEC likes it or not.

Meanwhile, Mack Brown is wondering how he got himself into this mess to begin with.

Texas Governor Rick Perry: Texas A&M Conversing Over Move To SEC

Texas Governor Rick Perry offered indications that someone in some fashion involved with Texas A&M is considering leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News reports. This is one percent more substantial than a tweet from a stranger would be, as Perry is famous.

"I'll be real honest with you. I just read about it the same time as y'all did...As far as I know, conversations are being had," said Perry. "That's frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision-makers over there."

Texas A&M and Oklahoma are not happy with the recruiting edge they feel the Longhorn Network will provide the University of Texas, and are supposedly considering bolting for the SEC. The upstart network will broadcast Texas high school games, and while ESPN will reportedly select the games, Big 12 rivals are concerned the exposure will steer recruits to the Longhorns.

With the state's governor, an A&M alum, keeping the issue in the news, Texas A&M issued the following statement:

"President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also into the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics."

For more on the Aggies, visit I Am The 12th Man.

Horn-Twisting In The Increasingly Inaccurately-Named Big 12!

Longhorn Network Contract Provides Texas With Vast Power

The Longhorn Network contract between Texas and ESPN has made its way into the public eye. The Midnight Yell obtained a copy of the contract, with Outkick The Coverage providing quick legal analysis of the deal, which gives Texas huge sway over the new venture. Similarly, many of the clauses in it show that Texas is not interested in helping out the Big 12.

Outkick The Coverage points out several major issues with this contract. Should Texas ever become an Independent in any sport, this would allow ESPN an exclusive 60-day window to negotiate for the entirety of Texas sports broadcast rights. Similarly, Texas is contractually obligated to stay away from participation in other sports networks, which may also mean that they would be unable to be affiliated with a Big 12 Network, if that ever came to fruition.

Additionally, employees of the Longhorn Network are expected to maintain a "quality and reputation desired by UT," to reflect the best interests of the network and the school. If the university does not like what is said on air, OTC points out, they can approach ESPN and have that person removed from the network.

Another controversial part of the contract is that ESPN is supposed to make every effort to obtain the Texas State Championship Game, a potential scenario that could give an unfair recruiting advantage to Texas. With a one-year wait on broadcasting any high school games, this condition still has a long time to percolate.

For more on the Longhorn Network, check out the rest of this StoryStream, and also check out Burnt Orange Nation.

The Longhorn Network, Available Nowhere Immediately

Longhorn Network Won't Air High School Games For One Year

The Longhorn Network's decision to air high school football games has been a key source of controversy in the Big 12 over the past couple of weeks, but that decision appears to be on hold.

Big 12 ADs met today. 1-year hold on HS games on The Longhorn Network. They'd like you to know all is hunky-dory. Lotsa love/trust in room.

The Longhorn Network is an ESPN-sponsored network. The controversy really got going when it came out that the network would air high school games, both in Texas and outside it, and that Texas would have discretion to determine which games it would pick. 

Then Dave Brown, who oversees the network, said it would be used to show Longhorns fans footage of unsigned recruits. That could create an advantage that other schools didn't have. 

Texas A&M and Oklahoma spoke out against the Longhorn Network, and it appears they're getting their way, for now. Time will tell whether the Big 12 conference adopts a rule preventing this sort of thing from happening, as Oklahoma's president has suggested.

For more on the Longhorn Network, check out the rest of this storystream, and also check out Burnt Orange Nation.

Texas Longhorn Network Already Signed Up Brenham School District

So much for hitting the pause button. Just days after Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe announced that plans for Texas' new television venture -- the Longhorn Network -- would be put on hold, reports have revealed that the university has already signed a contract to air a Brenham High School football game.

Initially weary after numerous calls from fellow members of the Big 12 claiming that broadcasting high school games gave Texas a distinct unmatchable advantage, Beebe released a statement last Thursday avowing that "no high school content will be televised on a branded member's network" until the conference could further explore the matter. Yet once again it seems like the Longhorns run the show, as reports surfaced Tuesday afternoon explaining that they had already signed a contract sometime the previous week to broadcast Brenham High School's game against Lamar Consolidated on September 1st.

Needless to say, Texas A&M University president R. Bowen Loftin does not appreciate the blatant disregard shown by Texas officials in cutting the backdoor deal.

"NCAA rules are extremely directed at the recruiting function," Loftin said. "We hope they'll be able to find a way for this to be a non-problem for us."

Loftin added, "We want to make certain that we come out of this with a clear sense of unity, that all of us are going to be going forward together and we all equally benefit."

You can follow all breaking news on the Longhorn Network here. For fan reactions check out Burnt Orange Nation, Crimson and Cream Machine and I Am The 12th Man.

Longhorn Network Draws The Ire Of Oklahoma President David Boren

At the rate we're going, every Big 12 school will have spoken out about Texas' new behemoth, the Longhorn Network, by the middle of next week. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe already made it clear that the pause button was being hit on plans to televise high school games, with an emphasis on those involving Texas football recruits, as the conference figured out how to handle the situation without imploding out of jealousy and anger. That hasn't stopped other schools from continuing the torrent of negativity, though.

Oklahoma president David Boren doesn't just want the Longhorn Network to refrain from showing high school games, he wants any kind of conference network to do the same.

“I'm going to be, at the proper time, suggesting we adopt a conference rule against either the conference network or any university network broadcasting high school games,” Boren told The Oklahoman. “It's unfair recruiting, and it's trying to push all those people into purchasing network memberships and so on.

“It's just not the right thing to do.”

He fails to mention that Texas' Longhorn Network is, in fact, the Big 12 Network because, you know, Texas runs the show and all.

For now, it seems likely Texas won't be showing high school games on its network anytime soon and the rumors of the Big 12's demise can subside for another six months before coming out of hibernation again.

You can follow all breaking news on the Longhorn Network here. For fan reactions check out Burnt Orange Nation, Crimson and Cream Machine and I Am The 12th Man.

Big 12 Commissioner Releases Statement On Longhorn Network

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has his hands full with Texas' Longhorn Network and its planned telecasts of high school football games. That idea rankles Texas A&M and Oklahoma, who feel as though it will give Texas an unfair recruiting advantage.

Beebe hasn't shut down the Longhorn Network's plan just yet. However, he wants everyone to know he's working on it.

Via a statement released Thursday...

The Conference members are committed to working together to address issues in a manner that benefits all members. There are elements of our new television agreement, which take effect in 2012, that need clarification and the members will be working together to develop a process that will work to the benefit of the entire Conference. Until the members have a chance to consider all the issues and come to conclusion about how the Conference will manage the interplay between the Conference television package and institutional networks, no more than one live football game will be televised on any institutional network and no high school content will be televised on a branded member’s network.

It's a step in the right direction to appease the other members of the conference but it's not entirely off the table just yet.

You can follow all breaking news on the Longhorn Network here. For fan reactions check out Burnt Orange Nation, Crimson and Cream Machine and I Am The 12th Man.

Longhorn Network In 'Pause Mode' Over High School Football, Says Big 12 Commish

Texas A&M and Oklahoma have made it very clear they're extremely wary of Texas' Longhorn Network and the competitive advantage it could garner the University within the Big 12. So much so that there have been closed-door meetings and not-so-veiled threats to re-ignite defection talk with the SEC.

At the heart of the issue is the Longhorn Network's plans to televise high school football games, which would become the ultimate UT recruiting tool. The network put those plans on hold earlier this week. Despite initial reports that Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe had put the kibosh on the high school games altogether, it turns out that the league has put the Longhorn Network's plan in a timeout.

There are a lot of moving parts and cooks in the Longhorn Network kitchen. Between the Big 12, Texas and ESPN, the trio is going to have to find the best solution that works not only for the network but for the future of the Big 12. Those two things aren't always going to co-exist.

For more Texas football and Longhorn Network news, head over to Burnt Orange Nation.

Texas A&M President: Longhorn Network Has Created 'Uncertainty' In Big 12

Texas A&M and Oklahoma are extremely wary of Texas' Longhorn Network and the competitive advantage it could garner the University within the Big 12.

The Aggies recently held a closed-door meeting to discuss the issue and, assumedly, reignite overtures with the Texas-less SEC.

After the meeting, San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle writer Brent Zwerneman spoke with Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin and tweeted the concerns that were discussed.

A&M president Loftin just said after regents' closed-door session that the Longhorn Network has created 'uncertainty' in the Big 12.

Loftin went on to say that the league and its schools are working to alleviate that 'uncertainty' concerning the Longhorn Network.

Loftin said that he has not been in touch with the Southeastern Conference in quite some time.

I got the sense from Loftin that A&M is committed to making the Big 12 work -- as long as conditions are met concerning the UT network

Loftin said he didn't have a problem with ESPN striking $300 mil deal w/ UT for the network, he congratulated the Horns for good business.

It's what the Horns plan to do with the network that is 'troubling' to the Aggies

You can follow all breaking news on the Longhorn Network here. For fan reactions check out Burnt Orange Nation, Crimson and Cream Machine and I Am The 12th Man.

Longhorn Network's Plan To Televise High School Games On Hold

The University of Texas has put its plans to air high school games on the Longhorn Network on hold according to a report from the Dallas Morning News. The plan had caused an uproar throughout college football, and even had Oklahoma and Texas A&M talking about heading to the SEC. In order to placate the Longhorns' longtime rivals, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe announced the compromise, saying the Longhorn Network would hold off on televising high school matches until the conference and the NCAA had decided how the telecasts should be regulated.

The creation of a single-school network raises immediate questions as to the influence such a network could have in recruiting. Especially if an admittedly biased station were to become involved with future Division I athletes. Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodd emphasized his school's commitment to keeping everything above board. 

"We want to play by the rules," Dodd said. "We want everything to be in the open with integrity. We’re for the conference."

Such a statement will likely do little to help ease the fears of the Aggie and Sooner nations, however. 

You can follow all breaking news on the Longhorn Network here. For fan reactions check out Burnt Orange Nation, Crimson and Cream Machine and I Am The 12th Man.

Longhorn Network May Have Already Gone Too Far

Longhorn Network Has Texas A&M, Oklahoma Considering SEC Move, According To Report

Texas A&M and Oklahoma are so concerned about the recruiting advantage that the University of Texas will receive with their Longhorn Network, the two schools could consider a move to the SEC, Matt Hayes of The Sporting News reports.

When Texas was considering leaving the Big 12 for the Pac-10 last year, Texas A&M and Oklahoma engaged in talks with the SEC about joining their conference. 

SEC commissioner Mike Slive is comfortable with the current 12-team format, but is willing to do what's in the best interest of the conference.

"It is my job to make sure the SEC is the premiere league," Slive said. "For me to exclude any action that would preclude that from happening would be inappropriate."

Set to launch next month, the Longhorn Network will be television high school games within the state of Texas. Though ESPN will select the high school games the network will air, that they're being broadcast at all could be perceived by their Big 12 rivals as a way of steering top recruits to Austin.

Longhorn Network Plans To Air High School Football, Showcase Texas Recruits

As it was announced that the University of Texas would receive their own ESPN-sponsored television channel, concern spread across the college football landscape like wildfire. In particular, several Big-12 universities voiced unease that the Longhorn Network -- as it has been affectionately dubbed -- would become the ultimate Texas recruiting tool.

The worries were understandably founded. ESPN Programming Vice President Dave Brown announced last month that the network would broadcast high school games from both inside and outside the state. Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds extrapolated on Brown's words, explaining that the network would select the televised high school games based on what Texas "feels is best".

Immediate discomfort was felt by all within the conference. Greasing high school kids with the ability to broadcast their faces to the entire country is an utterly absurd advantage that no other university possesses.

Despite that, Texas officials maintained that they would keep this brave new world as ethical as possible. Though those claims suddenly seem to have shrunk to the backburner, following Brown's latest remarks.

“One other thing, you may see us, I know there’s a kid [unsigned Texas verbal commit] Connor Brewer from Chapparal high school in Arizona. We may try to get on one or two of their games as well so people [Longhorn Network subscribers] can see an incoming quarterback that’ll be part of the scene in Austin.“

If that doesn't scream unfair recruiting advantage, then I don't know what does. The rest of the Big-12 should probably prepare for an unparalleled era of ESPN-sanctioned Texas dominance.

For more Texas football and Longhorn Network news, head over to Burnt Orange Nation. 

About Those Pesky Texas A&M-SEC Rumors ...

Longhorn Network Needs To Abide By NCAA Guidelines

Officials for the University of Texas and the NCAA are discussing whether the ESPN-owned Longhorn Network can broadcast high school games without providing the Longhorns with an unfair recruiting advantage, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson emailed Barron to say that the NCAA "is engaged in a conversation with the entities to better understand their plans and what bylaws come into play."

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds says the school will not be involved in the selection of games that will appear the network.

"ESPN will select the games based on what they feel is best," Dodds said. "We understand that this is a new world and that we're leading the way in an area that is new to us and new to the NCAA and new to ESPN. Like everything else, we will do it in a first-class way, in the light of day, and we will do it the right way."

Texas A&M Regents To Meet With Longhorn Network Reps In Closed-Door Meeting

The University of Texas' upcoming television station, The Longhorn Network, is not without its detractors. As is to be expected when facing the onset of a multi-million dollar divisional propaganda tool, other teams in the Big 12 are taking notice of the scheme. None more so than longtime rival, Texas A&M.

More than a month from the network's scheduled launch, Aggies officials have officially added a closed-door conference to discuss the issue onto its regents meetings' agenda for Thursday and Friday. The itinerary item has been ominously christened "Big 12 Conference."

The execution session will be informational only, including concerning UT's plans to air a Big 12 football game on the ESPN-owned network, and to potentially air high school games, the insider said. No action will be taken, the person added, the regents will simply be informed of the latest by lawyers concerning the deep-pocketed network.

It goes without saying, but Texas A&M and all other Big 12 universities are concerned that the network will become the ultimate recruiting tool, thus causing Texas to pull even farther ahead of its divisional brethren. Still, money makes the world go ‘round, especially in grubby world of college football. After almost scampering to the SEC last summer, managing to snatch a part of the oncoming pot will surely make the medicine go down smoother for the Aggies.

For more Texas football and Longhorn Network news, head over to Burnt Orange Nation. For more on Texas A&M, head over to I Am The 12th Man.

Texas Longhorn Network To Air Two 2011 Football Games

The show lineup for the new Longhorn Network includes a lot of programming, much of which includes Mack Brown.

That's all well and good, but what about the Texas Longhorn football games? That's what we're really here to say, right?

Texas fans who sign up for the network will be able to watch two games featuring their burnt orange heroes in 2011.

The Sept. 3 season-opener against the Rice Owls in Austin will be the first game shown on the Longhorn Network. And as you can imagine it will be surrounded all sides by programming (two-hour Texas GameDay pregame show, two-hour Texas GameDay Final postgame show).

The second game to be televised is "a Big 12 conference game to be determined." Texas fans should watch the standings and see which Big 12 teams are faltering early because chances are that's who you're going to see.

Follow along with Burnt Orange Nation for more on Texas Football and the Longhorn Network.

If You Like Mack Brown, You'll Love The Longhorn Network

Give 'Em The Hook ('Em)

Big 12 Football's New TV Deal With FOX: $1.2 Billion For 520 Games

FOX Sports has announced it will air 40 games worth of Big 12 football on FX and FSN channels for the next 13 years, with the number 90 million being thrown around all over as the amount of dollars they'll pay the conference every year for the opportunity. Starting next season, every game will be televised, though the deal also acts as a roadblock against teams going the way of the Colorado Buffaloes or Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Some are excited about this agreement putting the conference's TV money in the very wide vicinity of the SEC's, which means each Big 12 football program will make just over half the media money made by each SEC team -- but wait, there's more.

The Texas Longhorns and friends will still be able to field their own vanity networks, and schools will even be able to band together to create mini-networks if they like -- it would be really great if all nine non-Texas schools started up something called The Big 13 Football Network and refused to explain why they named it that.

Texas' Longhorn Network Logo, Website Unveiled By ESPN