Trends just realigned three conferences… trends is about to have four pac 4 teams go group of 4…
The marbles will drop when the viewers tune into the most entertaining games, im sorry. The pac 12 was boring as hell
The ACC did want Stanford and Cal. It was Clemson, FSU, UNC and NC State that didn’t want them. If any one of those schools flips, then Cal and Stanford are in.
ESPN wants the ACC to survive because they don’t want to to pay double the amount for the same product (FSU/Clemson going to the SEC)
People… it could be Stanford Alabama, Cal Alabama, and you all know youre turning that game off by halftime…
Notre Dame wanted Cal and Stanford in the ACC without joining the ACC themselves. The only reason Notre Dame wants this is so that they can remain independent.
Once the ACC does implode, then Notre Dame will be FORCED to join a conference with or without Stanford because the B1G’s schedules are going to be overloaded. They’re overloaded as it is already. There won’t be any room to schedule Notre Dame as an independent.
The ACC conference wanted Stanford/Cal with or without Notre Dame because it was the best chance at establishing stability should Clemson and FSU leave, somehow. That didn’t work out. obviously.
ESPN wants the ACC to survive just so they don’t have to pay Florida state and Clemson double what they’re making now for essentially the same product because the SEC is also partnered with ESPN.
The ACC at this point is in a state of uncertainty as well as a state of discomfort for teams not named Clemson, FSU and UNC.
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F it, yal continue on. When they ink the deal with the aac, yal will move on to the hyper mega conference alignment
But the pac sucks and outside of reggie bush and marcus mariota, it always has. Also the acc said no to having a vote. They didnt even have a vote… they said no to even having one. 100% just to jack with fsu and friends.
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The idea that ND could get Stanford into a conference where they DON’T have a vote (B1G), when they couldn’t get Stanford into a conference where they did have a vote (ACC) is pretty far fetched.
Only to you…if you think the B1G doesn’t want to add Notre Dame…you are a party of one.
They would 1 million % add Stanford if that’s what it took to FINALLY land Notre Dame.
Once the B1G expands again, it’s not going to matter what Notre Dame wants.
Notre Dame has leverage right now in the current landscape, but once we get to the point of the 3 power conferences with 18+ teams each, then nobody is going to be able schedule Notre Dame. Therefore, Notre Dame will be forced to join a conference because they won’t be able to land a media deal as an independent if they want to continue playing marquee teams.
Stanford got screwed by the PAC’s incompetence, but if they end up in the MWC or AAC (not ACC), then their value as an athletic program is going to go further down the drain for pretty much all their sports.
The B1G will add Stanford with or without ND, and ND will join the B1G with or without Stanford. ND was just using Stanford in this case (ACC expansion) as a means to remain independent for as long as possible.
If Clemson and FSU leave the ACC somehow within the next 2 years, then the ACC would be practically dead at that point.
If I was PAC commissioner for a day:
I would add SDSU, Fresno, UNLV, Boise, and Air Force for a solid 9 team conference.
Next I would try to help the MWC replace them with UTEP and UTSA for another solid 9 team conference.
Set up 2 OOC games with each other for annual rivalries between the conferences. Leaving 2 more OOC for power conference teams or FCS depending on each school’s choice
Goal to get a decent media deal for the teams (shoot for 10-15 million each from all combined sources) in a combined linear and streaming options. I would not be opposed to something like ion or CW if it covers the right markets locally, plus maybe just one game a week on NBC or something. Each media source would only be paying a nominal amount thus not a huge billion dollar deal that makes the news when they lay off employees.
ND will have no choice but to join the B1G if the ACC folds, if for no other reason than that they won’t have a good landing spot for sports other than football.
At that point, what ND wants won’t mean doodly squat.
They won’t be in a position to influence anybody at that point.
They will HAVE to join the B1G on the B1G’s terms, not their own.
ND is far below what they used to be in Football.
35 years with no National Title.
I agree that they cannot dictate anything to any Conference.
Obviously The ACC is unstable. Only that onerous GOR holds it together.
Media contracts expire in 2030 to 2031. Look for Atomic explosions then.
MWC has uneven revenue sharing. Why join that league.
In the scenario I gave, Boise would move to the PAC thus no more uneven revenue sharing in the MWC.
How many “real” PAC candidates are there without traversing the entire country?
Boise
SDSU
CO St
UNM
NM St
SMU
Tulane
Rice
Nev
Fresno
No going further east.
Done!
Send me the check!
Where are they getting the money to pay those buyouts?
Same place I am getting my paycheck as commissioner for a day.
Payouts would be $17 million and are often negotiated down and paid out over many years. So $2-3 million per year for 5-7 years is not bad. Considering they could be making more than that through increased media each year. So slight pay raise for the first several years.
Next - Yes, $17 million buyout before you go on about some $34 million. 34 would only be for a 2024 start date. Nothing says they can’t start in 2025. Plus negotiating a 2 game per school OOC schedule would also help in building good will between the two conferences.
Stanford makes the league but also is the problem bc as soon as a p5 calls them , they are gone. I wouldn’t hitch a wagon on Stanford unless a huge Grant of rights.
Not only a financial genius but a clairvoyant?
Because they thought nobody would ever want to leave their ivory tower.
Yep, but i think that is the massive mistake people make when they try to characterize the WVU fan base. We have a massive diaspora of displanted WVU fans on the eastern sea board in addition to the 1.8 million population inside of state borders…there are massive numbers of WVU loyalists in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina…and the alumni is all over the eastern seaboard.