(08-18-2016 12:56 AM)ClemVegas Wrote: (08-10-2016 09:48 PM)GTFletch Wrote: My guess is David Teel has been fed accurate information and that we will be heading to 9 game conference schedule...That is what ESPN wants
i hope so. it helps ensure the best two ACC teams make the title game.
You seem to be assuming that, in any given year, either FSU or Clemson will not be one of the best two ACC teams. That may be correct, but recent history (the last five years or so) would suggest otherwise.
On another thread, I suggested that, if we go to a 9 game schedule, we also realign the divisions by seniority in the league. That would put Clemson and FSU in different divisions. It would also put GT and Clemson in the same division and FSU and Miami both in the other one, whereas they are currently permanent crossover partners.
I further suggested a scheduling model in which each team has one permanent crossover, and two other schools that they alternate, playing each one every other year. In this model, the four southern schools are either each other's permanent partner or one of their alternating partners (Clemson-FSU and GT-Miami would be permanent partners) . It also puts all four NC schools in the same division, along with Virginia, Clemson and GT, reestablishing long time rivalries among those schools.
In this model, there is IMO a better chance that we would have the two best teams in the CCG. The downside is, we would usually have a rematch in the CCG, since all the historically best teams would be playing each other more often even if they are in different divisions. It would be much harder for any team to emerge undefeated (or even with a single loss) from both conference play and a CCG. On the plus side, our champion would likely command greater national (and committee) respect because of these challenging schedules.
There is no question that teams with an annual SEC rivalry game will not always be able to have seven home games. But because now a majority of P5 conferences will have this same problem, that might provide impetus to making FCS games pre-season exhibitions only to compensate for the loss of gate revenue.
Until that happens, though, every other conference that mandates 10 P5 games, but doesn't have a scheduling arrangement with somebody like Notre Dame, will still be able to muster 7 home games in most years. For a school like Wake, Duke, BC or Syracuse, who don't have very high attendance by P5 standards, the loss of a seventh home date isn't as painful as it is for schools with above average home attendance. It's hard to come up with an equitable way to compensate them that league members would agree on.