Well, here we go again. It seems time to start a discussion thread now that Texas and Oklahoma have announce that they will not renew the media rights with the Big 12 in 2025.
In short, the Big 12 is dead. It’s assumed that UT and Texas will bolt to the SEC and they probably will. I do think they will be courted by other conferences. UT and OU will make money anywhere they go but I think the East Coast Time Zone kickoffs play as much of a factor as anything.
If Texas and OU go to the SEC they can kiss conference titles and championships away. I just don’t see them consistently dominating that conference.
If I was a traditional bottom tier SEC school I guess they have another SEC SEC school to pull for as their own program will be cannon fodder.
Although I like the ACC at 14 teams. It appears they will have to expand or die. They need to go full court press on Notre Dame and try to poach a Big 10 school like Penn State if they can make the money right. I don’t think the Big 10 had a GOR deal which would make leaving easier.
There is another option: Could the Big 10 try to poach ACC Schools? I hope not. I like the ACC and hope it can keep it’s anchor schools together.
We are watching the thing we loved get ruined right before our eyes.
Regionalism and rivalry was why people started watching this sport.
This time will not be remembered for how great it made everything.
Not saying it can be stopped. It will be regretted though, but as always the people who cause it will not be the ones who pay the price.
Oh how I long for the 8 team ACC. Or was it 9? There are so many rumors going around like Clemson, FSU, and tOSU to the SEC. UNC and UVa are apparently a unit and are going to the Big10. Crazy. The SEC is trying to make a super conference. Of the 4 left the Pac and ACC are apparently expendable. I agree it’s all headed somewhere where it will be regretted. History will repeat and these big conferences will eventually split up.
Oh how I long for the 8 team ACC. Or was it 9? There are so many rumors going around like Clemson, FSU, and tOSU to the SEC. UNC and UVa are apparently a unit and are going to the Big10. Crazy. The SEC is trying to make a super conference. Of the 4 left the Pac and ACC are apparently expendable. I agree it’s all headed somewhere where it will be regretted. History will repeat and these big conferences will eventually split up.
The ACC’s media rights run though 2035. Unless the ACC breaks up I don’t see any ACC school willing to take such a financial hit in even a negotiated settlement. I’ve done a little searching and from what I can tell the Big10 doesn’t appear to have a GOR in their league so it would be easier to poach some of those programs if it came to that. If the mega money needed is really that important the ACC needs to lock down Notre Dame.
I agree that what we have coming will be far less desirable than what we’ve been enjoying for decades. I’m just glad that my team was able to have great success under the old model so us fans can enjoy the nostalgia.
Oh how I long for the 8 team ACC. Or was it 9? There are so many rumors going around like Clemson, FSU, and tOSU to the SEC. UNC and UVa are apparently a unit and are going to the Big10. Crazy. The SEC is trying to make a super conference. Of the 4 left the Pac and ACC are apparently expendable. I agree it’s all headed somewhere where it will be regretted. History will repeat and these big conferences will eventually split up.
The ACC’s media rights run though 2035. Unless the ACC breaks up I don’t see any ACC school willing to take such a financial hit in even a negotiated settlement. I’ve done a little searching and from what I can tell the Big10 doesn’t appear to have a GOR in their league so it would be easier to poach some of those programs if it came to that. If the mega money needed is really that important the ACC needs to lock down Notre Dame.
I agree that what we have coming will be far less desirable than what we’ve been enjoying for decades. I’m just glad that my team was able to have great success under the old model so us fans can enjoy the nostalgia.
I think you’re right the ACC is standing pat because of their GOR.
The Big XII will either cease to exist with other conferences grabbing the best remaining teams (Kansas and OSU come to mind) or they could try to replace OU and UT.
ND will not join a conference full time and has already said they would forgo the playoff bye given to the conference champion. How they get away with doing whatever they want I don’t know. I don’t see the ACC continuing to give them part time status.
College football will be fine. To me a road game at Norman or Austin would be cool.
I think you’re right the ACC is standing pat because of their GOR.
The Big XII will either cease to exist with other conferences grabbing the best remaining teams (Kansas and OSU come to mind) or they could try to replace OU and UT.
ND will not join a conference full time and has already said they would forgo the playoff bye given to the conference champion. How they get away with doing whatever they want I don’t know. I don’t see the ACC continuing to give them part time status.
College football will be fine. To me a road game at Norman or Austin would be cool.
The ACC may have a problem bringing other schools into the league unless it’s refugees from the Big12 or maybe an AAC school that would agree to a 15 year GOR deal. ND and maybe a top rated program like Penn State (which gets brought up occasionally) won’t agree to that.
I have to wonder if the GOR could be challenged. Since the agreement is not in the public domain people don’t have access to the fine print or loopholes. It seems to me that this agreement is now outdated since due to NIL and the rest of the changing environment of college football.
It’s my understanding that if the ACC offers a new member the GOR will have to be opened. This would give teams a chance to opt out and move. Any team other tan ND (who is unlikely) would probably cause this reaction. This is why I think the ACC stands still. The money will go elsewhere. EldDan Patrick has a source he swears by. He says the ACC admins do not want SEC because of academics. BIG wants UNC and UVa and SEC wants tOSU and Clemson.
I can only really speak about UNC. The feeling there is it is a national brand with success on fields of play and in academia. They would be accepted by either if the need arises. Disagree with this, if you like, but it’s most likely true.
Interesting turn of events here. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if ESPN was meddling in this.
In a letter obtained by Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger, the Big 12 calls for ESPN to not communicate with the league’s existing conference members or any NCAA conference regarding its members, possible conference realignment or potential financial outcomes associated with realignment.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby claims that ESPN—a current media rights partner of the conference—has taken actions to not only “harm” the league, but actions that “result in financial benefits for ESPN.”
The letter also states that ESPN is currently violating Section 20.2(c) of the Telecast Agreement with the Big 12 that states the network will not “take any actions likely to impair, or [that are] inconsistent with the rights of the league under the agreement.” https://www.si.com/college/2021/07/29/big-12-cease-desist-espn-realignment
Jay Bilas says the ACC and SEC should merge. Sankey’s answer would no doubt be “no thanks”. SEC would def take Clemson, FSU, UNC, and UVa. I truly doubt neither UNC or UVa would join SEC unless it’s the only choice. I do not think that would ever be the only choice. The ACC is locked up until 2035 or so, as stated here. If nothing is done until then the ACC will be like the AAC. Second rate. Something must give. The GOR is opened if a new team is offered. That would give Clemson and FSU it’s chance to go. What the ACC and PAC should do is insist on not expanding the playoff. This would counter the SEC, and put ND on a clock. If the ACC were to split up it’s most likely Clemson and FSU to SEC and UNC, UVa, and or Duke to Big10. I know there’s no desire for SEC among UNC’s decision makers, as UNC would not culturally fit (read academics). UNC, Uva, and Dook I believe are in the AAU, and the Big has among all members except Nebraska. Personally, I like the ACC, and hope it survives. I real hope is it would contract back to it’s history, although I realize there’s no chance. If there must be a change, I’d like the SEC, as road trips would be easier. You have to ask, though, how many is too many?
The NIL deal is going to have a huge impact in conference alignment. David Shaw lost a QB to Alabama that Nick Saban stated has close to a 7-figure endorsement deal and has not started a single game and I read today where an Ohio State QB committal his thinking about skipping his final year of High School to enroll in Ohio State early because he can get a 7-figure NIL deal when enrolled. (I guess he has enough credits to graduate or may go to summer school)..That’s just a couple of examples.
If schools moving around were the only issue it would be like before. When you throw these NIL elements into the mix each school really has to evaluate where’s the best place to be in order to continue recruiting well.
I can see if the ACC doesn’t change their GOR the SEC will poach Clemson and FSU. Football pays the bills. B1G wants UNC and UVA. UNC won’t leave since they and Duke control the ACC so I don’t see this ending well for the ACC.
I can see if the ACC doesn’t change their GOR the SEC will poach Clemson and FSU. Football pays the bills. B1G wants UNC and UVA. UNC won’t leave since they and Duke control the ACC so I don’t see this ending well for the ACC.
It’s every school for itself if that GOR gets torn up.
I can see if the ACC doesn’t change their GOR the SEC will poach Clemson and FSU. Football pays the bills. B1G wants UNC and UVA. UNC won’t leave since they and Duke control the ACC so I don’t see this ending well for the ACC.
It’s every school for itself if that GOR gets torn up.
The FSU President dropped a bit of a bomb today on the issue…
In an exclusive sit-down interview with the Democrat, Thrasher talked candidly about what he thinks about the future of college football as well as the ACC and FSU’s role in it.
“I just want us to be prepared…” Thrasher said.
“My point to (FSU director of athletics) David Coburn and to (new ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips is I don’t want Florida State to be left behind. I consider us as part of the ACC, but I also know that we have a marquee name, Clemson has a marquee name. I think there might be people coming after us, I don’t know, but we’ve got to be prepared no matter what the options are.”
That’s a pretty serious tip of the hat. It sounds like FSU and Clemson are expecting something for them.
I can see if the ACC doesn’t change their GOR the SEC will poach Clemson and FSU. Football pays the bills. B1G wants UNC and UVA. UNC won’t leave since they and Duke control the ACC so I don’t see this ending well for the ACC.
It’s every school for itself if that GOR gets torn up.
The FSU President dropped a bit of a bomb today on the issue…
In an exclusive sit-down interview with the Democrat, Thrasher talked candidly about what he thinks about the future of college football as well as the ACC and FSU’s role in it.
“I just want us to be prepared…” Thrasher said.
“My point to (FSU director of athletics) David Coburn and to (new ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips is I don’t want Florida State to be left behind. I consider us as part of the ACC, but I also know that we have a marquee name, Clemson has a marquee name. I think there might be people coming after us, I don’t know, but we’ve got to be prepared no matter what the options are.”
That’s a pretty serious tip of the hat. It sounds like FSU and Clemson are expecting something for them.
Sounds like FSU would be ready to go to the SEC. If they go Clemson would probably go also. Clemson definitely has an easy path to the playoffs being in the ACC but with the playoffs expanding they would lose that advantage.
I think FSU (and Clemson) would love to be in a football first conference with the prestige and tradition of the SEC. They would be a good fit and I would welcome them.
Then the question would be (like the Big XII) what happens to the ACC? Probably some would leave and then they would become a basketball conference similar to what the Big East used to be.
Sounds like FSU would be ready to go to the SEC. If they go Clemson would probably go also. Clemson definitely has an easy path to the playoffs being in the ACC but with the playoffs expanding they would lose that advantage.
I think FSU (and Clemson) would love to be in a football first conference with the prestige and tradition of the SEC. They would be a good fit and I would welcome them.
Then the question would be (like the Big XII) what happens to the ACC? Probably some would leave and then they would become a basketball conference similar to what the Big East used to be.
This could be shaping up to be a move led by the SEC to create a “Premier League” of the P5 Schools and maybe a few of the better AAC Schools and pull out of the NCAA to set their own rules and TV deals. It all of the P5 Conferences could agree to that then the GOR situation would be a non issue.
We are watching the thing we loved get ruined right before our eyes.
Regionalism and rivalry was why people started watching this sport.
This time will not be remembered for how great it made everything.
Not saying it can be stopped. It will be regretted though, but as always the people who cause it will not be the ones who pay the price.
