MAC gets new 13-year television deal

The Mid-American Conference, which created #MACtion and appeared in the 2013 Orange Bowl, has new television deal with ESPN.

The MAC has agreed to a new television deal with ESPN that runs to 2026-27, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The deal includes all distribution rights for football and select basketball and olympic sports games.

Exact financial terms are unknown but the deal is believed to be worth significantly more than the previous setup worth a reported $1 million annually until 2016-17. 

Both sides decided to reopen contract talks last year, which helped the MAC after coming off Northern Illinois' Orange Bowl appearance. ESPN values the role #MACtion fills in its midweek programming. People want to see shootouts on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. The MAC can do that.