The NFL rights negotiations are shaping up to be a blockbuster battle for the future of sports media, and according to Pablo Torre, one of the most fascinating storylines involves a familiar face playing an unexpected role: Fox Sports as the underdog.

In a recent episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Torre, along with former ESPN president John Skipper and sports executive David Samson, broke down the high-stakes chess match between Fox and the NFL. At the center of it all? Rupert Murdoch’s push to keep NFL games on broadcast television—a fight that’s becoming increasingly David-versus-Goliath.

"What Rupert Murdoch is doing here is he is signifying something very fascinating, which is he is the little guy! Fox is the little guy among all these bidders now," Torre explained.

Here’s the reality check: Fox’s market cap sits at just under $25 billion. That sounds massive—until you stack it up against the tech titans now circling the NFL. Amazon is worth a staggering $2.93 trillion, and Google clocks in at $4.83 trillion. Suddenly, Fox looks less like a media giant and more like a scrappy contender.

The timing is also intriguing. As the federal government sharpens its focus on anticompetitive practices in the NFL and the rapid rise of streaming, Murdoch has been meeting with President Donald Trump. It’s a move that Skipper and Samson suggest is no coincidence—a strategic play to level a playing field that’s increasingly tilted toward deep-pocketed tech companies.

Skipper praised Fox for selling off some of its digital assets at a peak valuation, but noted that move has left the company with a smaller war chest compared to its new rivals. "Roger Goodell is in the process of," Skipper began, hinting at the NFL commissioner’s leverage in a market where bidding wars can now reach astronomical heights.

For fans, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Fox has long been synonymous with Sunday afternoon football, and its broadcast model keeps games free and accessible. But as streaming giants flex their financial muscle, the question looms: Can the "little guy" hold its ground, or will the NFL’s next rights deal reshape how—and where—we watch the game?

One thing’s for sure: this isn’t just a negotiation—it’s a play for the soul of sports television.