The PAC’s demise was at the hands of the conference.
The ACC’s demise will be at the hands of ESPN, essentially.
Currently, there is no media deal for the period of 2027-2036. If ESPN doesn’t extend the deal at the current terms, then the remaining teams (post-FSU, Clemson, UNC) are not subject to a GOR because they wouldn’t be receiving any money.
A conference owns the rights to its members’ home games, and then sells those rights to a broadcaster in order to pay the teams within the conference.
If the ACC can’t find a deal, then they can’t force their teams to adhere to the Grant of Rights, i.e. Breach of Fiduciary Duty.
The only way ESPN would continue working with the ACC is if they lowball the crap out of the remaining teams. ESPN is not going to continue paying the ACC the same amount of money without its best members.
By that point, FSU and Clemson would be in the SEC. If the ACC adds 4 teams, then ESPN would essentially be getting robbed at gunpoint. They have to make up for any losses, and it’s simply not in their financial interest to continue paying Boston College and Wake Forest $40 Million a year
Adding NCST, VT, UL, and Miami make the most sense for both football/basketball. I really like Duke for basketball but after watching the video, those 4 adds make the most sense for B12.
Any school that has to prostitute itself to join a P5 and is willing to play for no money is obviously NOT a valuable brand. It’s like the girl that can’t get a boyfriend because she’s not attractive, and then tries to get guys by being the sluttiest girl instead.
UH, TCU, and Baylor should team up to keep SMU out. Pitt would be INFINITELY better if that’s what you say the “choice” is.
Our conference will be at 20 at that point, which is huge!
We said NO to a Big 12- PAC merger, we should repeat in saying NO to a Big 12/ ACC Merger (more than 4 schools)…and that include basketball only schools…we aren’t a charity conference.
If you want my honest opinion, I doubt Duke would be 100% interested in the Big 12 even if they had an invite at their door
Duke is essentially Ivy League adjacent and are probably funded like one too. They don’t need to depend on TV money.
Just look at the 4 corner schools. Outside of maybe Colorado (who left the big 12 for academics), they were really unhappy to join the Big 12. I assume Duke would have the same feelings.
Duke could join the Big East and still be relevant as a basketball blue blood. Football probably doesn’t matter much to them.
I just don’t see them being so desperate to want to be in the Big 12, and I don’t think Big 12 basketball is going to triumph over their need for wanting to be in a conference with prestigious universities.
I could be wrong who knows. I think the legacy Big 12 schools still view this conference as a football conference
Miami (academically prestigious enough to satisfy the 4 corners, especially Utah…
Louisville (one of the best all around athletic departments in the nation)
Virginia Tech (just a solid football school and geographic fit for WVU/Cincy)
NC State (same as above but for UCF)
It’s hard to pass on Pitt just because of their history, but sadly they just are a shell of what they once were, and Georgia Tech is a great academic school in a great location, but they just aren’t in the top 4 of choices
Yea, unlikely espn opts out of the ACC. Easy money. Right now, they have a sweetheart deal and no executive gets a bonus for walking away from a good deal.
