(02-05-2015 10:43 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  

(02-05-2015 07:42 AM)JRsec Wrote:  If the core of the ACC is against accepting the top programs of the Big 12 for fear of losing control of their conference, and since football drives the economic bus for the conferences then perhaps ESPN should consider doing the following:

SEC:
North: Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
East: Alabama, Auburn, Florida Georgia, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
West: Arkansas, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M

If the ACC gets the ACCN as some in ACC land believe is coming around 2017, I don't see the core ACC programs wandering off. I could see an annoyed Virginia wondering off the the B1G and then VT heading to the SEC to keep up with their in-state rival's media rights income. I still think, realistically, the only teams the SEC would expand to 15 for would be Virginia Tech or Oklahoma. If the SEC grabbed two from the ACC, first shot would be VT/NC State. If NCSU can't escape, FSU would get mulled over and then B12 options looked at.

I don't disagree with your picks for 15, but the issue we were surmising is a bit broader than that. If the ACC gets a network then they are going to have to have better football content. Right now according to some of our ACC posters, one in particular, the core schools of Duke, U.N.C., and Virginia are against additions of football powers from the Big 12 that would help to insure that content. So the question then becomes how could a network (ESPN) interested in maximizing the values of its product work around such an obstacle?

It's top product lacks basketball content. It's second, and exclusive product lacks football content, but if provided with it could command a bigger market with that content. It's top product commands its market and then some, but would earn even more with a larger market. While I'm not saying it is likely, I am saying that by placing the core of the Old ACC in the SEC both objectives would be astoundingly accomplished. The core of Virginia, Duke, and U.N.C. would not upset the traditional powers of the SEC and Kentucky would probably welcome the elite company, especially since they are so close geographically. Throw in Missouri and Florida and you have a new basketball cadre within the SEC and good winter content for the network. The elite basketball first status of the core is maintained in a conference that doesn't care if that is their emphasis, in fact welcomes it. The new ACC has enough football power to become a permanent rival for the SEC with season finales that would be annual must see events for the nation: Texas vs A&M, Oklahoma vs OSU, F.S.U. vs Florida, U.N.C. vs N.C. State, UVa vs Virginia Tech, Kansas vs Missouri, Clemson vs U.S.C., Kentucky vs Louisville, etc. all become part of a fantastic ratings weekend throughout the Southeast and Southwest and Midwest. Old mid season rivalries like Auburn vs Georgia Tech, Florida vs Miami, Kansas vs Kansas State then provide the spine of a mid season slate that peaks interest just when some fan bases are starting to slide.

Now you have the hype of opening season bolstered by mid season rivalries, and a larger slate of season ending, season making, or season redeeming games at the end. The SEC and ACC both expand their markets dramatically without losing any of their existing footprints, and ESPN locks down the Horns and Irish in the process.

An ACC with former big East basketball powers and football schools like OU, UT, F.S.U., Clemson, Virginia Tech, Miami, and Georgia Tech becomes the best possible foil for the expanded SEC.

At 18 schools each, or even 20, the internal championships become extra dramatic money makers for the conferences, and the two champs form half of the final four.

Then in the Spring between the two ESPN will dominate a growing fan interest in college baseball as well.

I'm just saying from a business perspective it's a winner.

But if expansion continues piecemeal then yes Oklahoma and Virginia Tech would be nice ways to expand. N.C. State would hold allure as a market, and F.S.U. as content.