Why Did College GameDay Do *That* Ted Cruz Interview?

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It was the College GameDay interview heard around the world, if only because it was forced down your ears. Richard and Alex talk with Extra Points publisher Matt Brown about what we think went into ESPN’s decision to have Senator Ted Cruz on College GameDay (a reasonable choice) for a barely-interrupted stump speech in support of the bill being pushed by noted GameDay panelist Nick Saban. Is this a big corporate influence operation, something simpler, or much ado about nothing? We cover that and a handful more topics on this version of the Extra Points/SZD Sports Business Hour, a recurring feature around here:

* 0:52: Why did ESPN lend its time to Cruz and decline to check any of his claims as he took up 10 of the most valuable minutes in sports TV?

* 16:53: A lot of FCS buy games feel even uglier than normal right now, and there’s probably an economic reason for that. Is this tenable?

* 28:03: Rutgers obviously needs to split with Greg Schiano, but … can they afford it? Let’s discuss an outrageously bad financial situation

* 32:36: Florida State fires its athletic director. What do we make of that?

Producer: Anthony Vito