I was thinking about the make up of the ACC, who they have now and who they would likely go after. Obviously we would all want Notre Dame and Penn State as our dream scenario, but what I was thinking about is the progression of events that would have to happen to reach that and the ultimate end game for the ACC. So let’s start:
2016
The ACC is coming off it’s 3rd BCS bowl win and 2nd national championship in 5 years.
ACC basketball attendance and tv ratings are the highest it’s ever been with FSU winning it’s first national championship.
In light of the ACC’s success, ESPN honor’s their performance based “look in” and pays the ACC on par with the SEC.
2017
Notre Dame negotiates a move to the ACC that will allow some 2nd tier content to be aired on NBC making the ACC now the highest paid conference. Rutgers is also added.
2022
Penn State has been in serious talks with the ACC for the last 5 years and now that the B1G grant of rights is close to expired, PSU, ACC and B1G agree to a settlement that will return PSU’s GOR for the remaining years on the contract. South Florida has also been lobbying hard for inclusion in the ACC which they are accepted with their football success, strides academically and added exposure in Florida which just surpassed New York as the 3rd most populous state.
The end game:
The ACC divides up into three divisions of 6 with an 8 game schedule. The 3 division winners and wild card engaging in a semi-final conference playoff. The ACC Championship game is played on New Years in the Orange bowl with the winner possibly advancing to the +1 national championship game.
Below you will see the divisions with the annual cross over games indicated by the number by each team:
ATLANTIC
1 FSU
2 GT
3 Clemson
4 Wake
5 Maryland
6 Syracuse
COASTAL
1 USF
2 UVA
3 NCSU
4 UNC
5 VT
6 PSU
EAST
1 Miami
2 Notre Dame
3 BC
4 Duke
5 Pitt
6 Rutgers
