Conference Realignment

Techwood Relict

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1,394
Ok FSU, it's Tuesday again now pick a door.


View attachment 14576

Show em what they've won Monte......
Anybody feeling a goat behind curtain #3?!?

lets make a deal GIF
 

RamblinRed

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Featured Member
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Article from CBSSports. Sounds like if Stanford ultimately does not get in to the ACC, then it is likely to try to form a new PAC8. Also, there was reporting last week that B12 reached out to Stanford to offer a spot and Stanford had no interest. It was ACC or nothing. Which gives some insight into the whole B12 vs ACC dynamic.


for perhaps the first time in realignment, Power Five schools are assured of losing money by changing conferences.
The priority now is finding a conference to call home in 2024.

Stanford, and perhaps Cal, might have a bit more juice than the others, but it's doubtful rightsholders will pay much more for those four brands. The Bay Area schools came one vote shy of landing a spot in the ACC last week where a full media rights share approaches $40 million annually.

So, what is the priority these days? Branding. That's why the best rivalries in the game (arguably) reside in the 34 teams that comprise the Big Ten and SEC beginning in 2024.

That highlights suggestions within the industry that realignment has reached a sort of critical mass. Not that it's over forever; it's over for now.

Industry sources repeat that there is not much desire by either conference to add the likes Clemson, Florida State, etc
. Not that the ACC's seemingly "ironclad" grant of rights agreement would allow such movement.

That says loads about the reality of the market compared to how those schools view themselves.

Down the food chain, survival -- not a big payday -- becomes key.

That makes it time to ask whether rightsholders are simply tapped out. A combination of reckless realignment and budget realities have forced networks to look at the bottom line.

If the ACC doesn't work out as a landing spot, Stanford has some reckoning to do.

There appears to remain some reciprocal interest between Stanford, Cal and the ACC. However, the Bay Area schools last week fell one vote short of being approved for inclusion in the league, sources told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

there are reasons Stanford wasn't carried forward to the ACC or Big Ten. The latter did not consider the Bay Area market as a relevant-enough media market. That led both schools to scramble, geographical absurdities be damned. With Clemson, FSU and Miami (among others) complaining about ACC revenue, Stanford and Cal simply didn't rate a full share. Plus, the longest road trip for both schools in the ACC would be 3,100 miles.

who owns the name "Pac-12?" And if the brand does endure as part of a reformed league, can it lose its autonomous status?

NCAA bylaws state it takes eight teams to compose a conference (there is a grace period of two years).

If the Pac-4 were able to convince four schools from another conference to join them, could it somehow retain its NCAA autonomous status? Its automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament? Its spot as a power conference in the College Football Playoff?

One source said to pay attention to the limited liability nature of the CFP. The Pac-12 still is a member of that LLC.

So much remains unresolved.

"[It was] never contemplated an FBS conference basically losing three quarters of their membership. It's all new,"
said a source working to preserve the Pac-12.
 

Techster

Helluva Engineer
Messages
18,215
Article from CBSSports. Sounds like if Stanford ultimately does not get in to the ACC, then it is likely to try to form a new PAC8. Also, there was reporting last week that B12 reached out to Stanford to offer a spot and Stanford had no interest. It was ACC or nothing. Which gives some insight into the whole B12 vs ACC dynamic.


for perhaps the first time in realignment, Power Five schools are assured of losing money by changing conferences.
The priority now is finding a conference to call home in 2024.

Stanford, and perhaps Cal, might have a bit more juice than the others, but it's doubtful rightsholders will pay much more for those four brands. The Bay Area schools came one vote shy of landing a spot in the ACC last week where a full media rights share approaches $40 million annually.

So, what is the priority these days? Branding. That's why the best rivalries in the game (arguably) reside in the 34 teams that comprise the Big Ten and SEC beginning in 2024.

That highlights suggestions within the industry that realignment has reached a sort of critical mass. Not that it's over forever; it's over for now.

Industry sources repeat that there is not much desire by either conference to add the likes Clemson, Florida State, etc
. Not that the ACC's seemingly "ironclad" grant of rights agreement would allow such movement.

That says loads about the reality of the market compared to how those schools view themselves.

Down the food chain, survival -- not a big payday -- becomes key.

That makes it time to ask whether rightsholders are simply tapped out. A combination of reckless realignment and budget realities have forced networks to look at the bottom line.

If the ACC doesn't work out as a landing spot, Stanford has some reckoning to do.

There appears to remain some reciprocal interest between Stanford, Cal and the ACC. However, the Bay Area schools last week fell one vote short of being approved for inclusion in the league, sources told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

there are reasons Stanford wasn't carried forward to the ACC or Big Ten. The latter did not consider the Bay Area market as a relevant-enough media market. That led both schools to scramble, geographical absurdities be damned. With Clemson, FSU and Miami (among others) complaining about ACC revenue, Stanford and Cal simply didn't rate a full share. Plus, the longest road trip for both schools in the ACC would be 3,100 miles.

who owns the name "Pac-12?" And if the brand does endure as part of a reformed league, can it lose its autonomous status?

NCAA bylaws state it takes eight teams to compose a conference (there is a grace period of two years).

If the Pac-4 were able to convince four schools from another conference to join them, could it somehow retain its NCAA autonomous status? Its automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament? Its spot as a power conference in the College Football Playoff?

One source said to pay attention to the limited liability nature of the CFP. The Pac-12 still is a member of that LLC.

So much remains unresolved.

"[It was] never contemplated an FBS conference basically losing three quarters of their membership. It's all new,"
said a source working to preserve the Pac-12.

After having followed conference realignment for years now, these write-ups are pure "best guesses". Never believe what conference commissioners and representatives say.

Months ago all the writers said Washington and Oregon were SOL when it came to expansion. B1G representatives said they were done with expansion after adding USC and UCLA. Low and behold, last week FOX and B1G scrambled to come up with a package to keep Washington and Oregon in their national conference plans. Funny how things change, huh?

The whole "not much desire" to add Clemson and FSU is a result of the immense legal hurdles required for ACC teams to get out of the GOR. The desire is there to invite the schools, the desire is NOT there to fight a legal battle...Clemson and FSU (or any other ACC school) will have to figure it out on their own. If you're following realignment, and you know one of the big conferences (B1G) as national aspirations, you ask yourself: Well, which area of the country has national brands and big markets that will help our conference grow the next 50+ years? The only answer left is the Southeast region...and ACC territory. Not only is the Southeast the fastest growing region in the US, with huge economic potential, but it's the only region left with schools available to invite. Luckily for the ACC, the GOR makes it financial suicide for a program to get out of. However, let's see how the tune changes if ACC schools can either "crack" the GOR before 2036, or the GOR expires. I'm confident the entire "not much desire" tune changes once that happens.
 

GoJacketsInRaleigh

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
995
The prize for the ACC is for ND to become a full member. Inviting Stanford and Cal edges the conference closer to that goal. I understand the short term costs, but, university presidents ought to be long-term focused.
Should have been in on Texas before the SEC was. Should have been in on USC, UCLA, and Stanford together. I know I suggested an ACC/PAC merger at least a year ago. The screwups go all the way back to 1990ish when they should have gotten Penn State before the Big Ten did.
 

Techster

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18,215
If you want ND, wait for NBC to renew. Then, match it with a proportional share.

ND will never join the ACC as a full member. They have the best of both worlds with the ACC: Independence, ability to give their other sports a home, and they have NBC backing them. Oh, and it also looks like ND gets a vote on any ACC decisions.

I think the ACC and ND need to present to ESPN a package that will hopefully increase value for everyone. Have the ACC go to a 9 game conference schedule (increases inventory) and have ND increase their ACC football commitment to 7 games per year. If ND truly wants what's best for the ACC and themselves, you better put your money where your mouth is.

Doesn't mean the ESPN will go for it (rumor is ESPN told SEC that they wouldn't pay anymore for an extra conference game), but if they do, hopefully the added ACC inventory + extra ND games adds more money to the ACC pot.
 

TooTall

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ND will never join the ACC as a full member. They have the best of both worlds with the ACC: Independence, ability to give their other sports a home, and they have NBC backing them. Oh, and it also looks like ND gets a vote on any ACC decisions.

I think the ACC and ND need to present to ESPN a package that will hopefully increase value for everyone. Have the ACC go to a 9 game conference schedule (increases inventory) and have ND increase their ACC football commitment to 7 games per year. If ND truly wants what's best for the ACC and themselves, you better put your money where your mouth is.

Doesn't mean the ESPN will go for it (rumor is ESPN told SEC that they wouldn't pay anymore for an extra conference game), but if they do, hopefully the added ACC inventory + extra ND games adds more money to the ACC pot.
NBC is backing ND, but last I heard, ND is pushing for 75million. NBC won't back them at that price. What would you pay to televise only 6 games a year?
 

Oldgoldandwhite

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ND will never join the ACC as a full member. They have the best of both worlds with the ACC: Independence, ability to give their other sports a home, and they have NBC backing them. Oh, and it also looks like ND gets a vote on any ACC decisions.

I think the ACC and ND need to present to ESPN a package that will hopefully increase value for everyone. Have the ACC go to a 9 game conference schedule (increases inventory) and have ND increase their ACC football commitment to 7 games per year. If ND truly wants what's best for the ACC and themselves, you better put your money where your mouth is.

Doesn't mean the ESPN will go for it (rumor is ESPN told SEC that they wouldn't pay anymore for an extra conference game), but if they do, hopefully the added ACC inventory + extra ND games adds more money to the ACC pot.
Depends on the new contract in a year or three. While I agree with you, money trumps principles.
 

tomknight

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
688
Living on the west coast now, it’s already amazing how little UGA matters to me for days GT isn’t playing them. I turned on 5 minutes against TCU out of curiosity and then walked right out that door. Nobody is gonna ask me about it the next day. Nobody is gonna bark out their car with a UGA shirt on. There will be maybe a couple columns in the paper, probably something on the evening news if I watched that, that’s about it.

Contrast that to the winter of 2017 in Atlanta and hearing neighbors go nuts over the games in real time and seeing lots everywhere. That was hard to ignore, but after years removed from it… eh.

Shrinking the pool of teams is likely to have that same sort of effect for a good part of the country. If you don’t live in the South, it’ll just become one less thing to worry about.
How many minor league sports champs can you name? Who won the XFL or USFL or whatever they’ve been running the last few years? What’s the long term plan for getting more nationally relevant by cutting off most of the nation?

I couldn't tell you what two teams were in the Super Bowl last year. Just don't care. If CFB becomes pro like the NFL, I won't care about that either.
 

Techster

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Why should NC State vote against Stanford and Cal?

I understand Clempy and FSU being brats and UNC inflated ego from bygone years. But not NC State.

My guess is NC State and UNC are voting as one...or probably NC State is voting however UNC tells them to. I've read that UNC may have to drag NC State wherever they end up if UNC leaves the ACC. North Carolina politics similar to what UVA had to do with VT.
 

eetech

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
195
Bottom line is this: If GT moves to the B1G or Big 12, are you going to be any less of a GT fan?

I think that's what these conferences are counting on. Each fanbase will remain loyal to their school, and rivalries will continue on in new conferences, or new ones will be made. As long as fans remain loyal to their schools, and school fan bases are among the most loyal "consumers", the big conferences will operate business as usual.
The existing fans might not be lesser fans, although based on what a lot of people here say, I’m not even sure that’s true (I think there is a non trivial number of GT fans who would stop watching games if we didn’t play UGAg every year, for example).

The real problem is new fans. It’s hard to see why new fans would be interested in Tech if we don’t play regional rivals. Let’s say you’re a kid with 5 friends. 2 are fans of UGAg, 1 Auburn, 1 Alabama, and 1 Tennessee. Those guys are constantly watching games their teams play against each other and talking about games that their teams don’t even play but affec their teams’s conference standings, whereas your team is playing against teams none of them care about nor affect their teams’ fortunes at all. I bet the odds are that at best you adopt a secondary team and at worst you give up on Tech altogether.

Now, if the B1G’s goals actually work out, where they become a national conference supported by the biggest media players and a broad group of interesting teams spanning the entire country, then maybe if Tech was in the B1G those kids might still be interested in your games. Heck, they may even overvalue Tech games because they have an influence on the preeminent national conference.

However, if Trch never makes it to the B1G or if the B1G’s minor league national ambitions don’t pan out, then it will greatly damage Tech’s future fan base.
 

eetech

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
195
I couldn't tell you what two teams were in the Super Bowl last year. Just don't care. If CFB becomes pro like the NFL, I won't care about that either.
Yeah, why would anyone care about a league with an order of magnitude greater skill where there have been as many distinct Super Bowl participants (2 teams in a league of 32 teams) as CFB playoff participants (4 teams in a league of 120+ teams) since the CFB playoffs existed.

Who wants to watch football played at the highest level and yet have enough drama that it’s hard to predict the winner the day of the Super Bowl, never mind the beginning of the playoffs or beginning of the season, when we can instead watch to see whether OSU, Clemson, or Alabama will best UGA this year while pretending any other team has a chance. And who the hell would want to miss the thrill of the same two teams playing each other in 2 championship games in the same season! I mean, talk about excitement!
 

eetech

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
195
The 24 team CFB playoffs are gonna be a joke.

Nearly every player with NFL aspirations is gonna sit them out.

I won’t be surprised to see a game where #1 Alabama loses to #12 Cincinnati by forfeit because Alabama doesn’t have enough “healthy” players to field a team.
 
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