From the article:

Maintaining an eight-game scheduling model for ACC football has significant support entering a vote of league athletic directors this week in Amelia Island, Fla., several sources told CBSSports.com.

“Momentum seems to be going that way but a discussion and vote is a few days away,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Sunday night via text.

Added a separate athletic director who has supported a nine-game model: “I think it's leaning toward an eight-game model. That's what it feels like."

The ACC is the last of the five power conferences to decide on the surprisingly divisive eight-vs-nine issue among college football fans.

The ACC is also not as set on the direction as the SEC, whose officials were overwhelmingly in support of eight league games. An ESPN.com story in late April revealed half the ACC's athletic directors prefer nine games.

But as one league athletic director pointed out, much of the legwork has been done well before the meetings. Athletic directors have been discussing this either privately or in meetings for months.

Faculty athletic representatives ratify the athletic directors' vote, which should come Tuesday or Wednesday. Sources stress that the discussions will be thorough and that nothing has been finalized. Directors from recent full-time additions (Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville) plus Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock (hired in January) could prefer a spirited debate in Amelia Island.

Looming large in the decision are league powers Clemson and FSU, both of which favor eight.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...ilng-model

The SEC is considered to be a strong conference. The ACC not so much.
Many are concerned 8 games gives the SEC a serious pass towards the playoffs because they will play less P5 opponents each year than the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12 schools.

If the ACC only plays 8 conference games and one OOC oppoent from the P5--they are seriously attempting to game a spot in the playoffs. Since the committee is supposed to place strength of schedule at the forefront of the consideration--the weakest conference only playing 8 conference games gives a huge advantage over conferences playing a much tougher conference schedule, and playing more P5 opponents each year.

It will be interesting to see how the committee looks at this situation

Seems to be in the best interest of the ACC and SEC to create a schedule alliance for the 9th game. 4 rival games already happen, so they just pair up the 10 other school's. Add in the acc games with ND, that's a pretty good lineup assuming they cut the sec deal. Thus, the acc would have 8 conference games, 1 sec game and 1 ND game every few years.

Outside of UF/FSU, South Carolina/Clemson, Georgia/GT and to a lesser degree UK/UL there wouldn't really be all that much interest to games in just an SEC/ACC matchup.

B.C. and ??
Wake and ??
Syracuse and ??
Duke and ??
Pitt and ??

There aren't really any other of those cross conference regular type matchups besides the four instate rivalries to generate much interest.

Besides, the SEC already has said its teams will try to match up with someone from all the P5 conferences, not just the ACC.

6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha. Also, if ND were willing to play 1 sec school per year either jumping to 5 acc + 1 sec or 4 acc + 1 sec, than would cement it. Not sure if the acc would allow ND to get out of 1 game but if they could replace ND with TN, Alabama, LSU, etc its not a bad move to let ND drop 1 game from 5 to 4. Of course, i don't think it would be a bad move for ND to add 1 rotated sec game to the 5 acc games. ND would still be able to play USC, Stanford, NAVy, Big 10 school.

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

(05-12-2014 09:02 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  The SEC is considered to be a strong conference. The ACC not so much.
Many are concerned 8 games gives the SEC a serious pass towards the playoffs because they will play less P5 opponents each year than the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12 schools.

If the ACC only plays 8 conference games and one OOC oppoent from the P5--they are seriously attempting to game a spot in the playoffs. Since the committee is supposed to place strength of schedule at the forefront of the consideration--the weakest conference only playing 8 conference games gives a huge advantage over conferences playing a much tougher conference schedule, and playing more P5 opponents each year.

It will be interesting to see how the committee looks at this situation

The two schools that are most likely to be in the playoffs (FSU and Clemson) already have an OOC game against a perennial power unlike most of the schools in the B1G, P12, or B12 so it won't affect them at all. The SEC and ACC are doing eight games because four of their schools are locked into a ninth game already. Plus, every school has ND locked in every third year so there are circumstances in the ACC that other leagues don't have that make this the right move for them.

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

Since the SEC wants every team to play at least one P5 school yearly, the ACC is as attractive as anybody since it will have the flexibility to schedule home & home series(like LSU just did with Syracuse)

As the recent most recent signing day illustrated and further confirmed this weekends draft, most of the Nation's college football talent resides in The SEC and ACC. Of ESPN's Top 300 172 signed with SEC and ACC programs. The ACC (51) itself signed more Top 300 talent then The PAC (41), Big Ten (35) and Big 12 (34). 12 of ESPN's 15 5 star recruits signed with SEC and ACC programs as well. The Big 12 is the only top conference that did not sign any.

As for the recent NFL Draft:

The SEC edged out The ACC 49 to 42 in the number of draft choices. The PAC had 34 players selected while The Big Ten had 30. The Big 12 once again finished last in this talent matrix by only having 17 players drafted. That's only 1 more player than the much maligned Mountain West Conference that had 16 drafted. The SEC lead all conferences with 11 first round picks with The ACC again finished 2nd with 5. What is most interesting is future ACC member Louisville had more players drafted in the first round than the entire Big 12 and the same number as The PAC.

As results of both of the most recent talent events illustrate The SEC and ACC not only led the Nation in the number of players sent to the NFL but in quality players sent as well. Both also led the Nation in harvesting the best players from the high schools across the country.

Based on the above statistics I would expect The SEC and ACC to continue to strengthen ties in scheduling as the best always want to play the best.
CJ

(05-12-2014 10:09 AM)mj4life Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

Since the SEC wants every team to play at least one P5 school yearly, the ACC is as attractive as anybody since it will have the flexibility to schedule home & home series(like LSU just did with Syracuse)

I think it's more likely the SEC West schools look to the Big 12 than to the ACC. The SEC East already has four rivalry games with the ACC, and I'll be surprised if VT-Tennessee doesn't eventually become a fifth. If Vandy latches on to an alternating series with Wake and Duke, that only leaves Mizzou, which isn't an eastern school at all.

I could see the Tigers teaming up with Kansas, resuming a long-standing rivalry. But schools like Ole Miss and Mississippi State just don't have any logical P5 rivals OOC, so why force the issue? If it makes sense, do it. If not, try something else.

I can't imagine A&M or Mizzou being too excited about playing Big 12 programs that they abandoned when they jumped to The SEC. I would expect to see both play more more ACC programs in the southeast. Presently A&M and Missouri don't have any Big 12 programs scheduled through the end of the decade.

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

With Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Louisville off the market I cannot imagine how the SEC West schools would favor regular home/home games with the remaining ACC schools.

(05-12-2014 11:04 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

With Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Louisville off the market I cannot imagine how the SEC West schools would favor regular home/home games with the remaining ACC schools.

Who said we're off the table? We already have 2 SEC teams on our schedule the year after next.

(05-12-2014 10:59 AM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I can't imagine A&M or Mizzou being too excited about playing Big 12 programs that they abandoned when they jumped to The SEC. I would expect to see both play more more ACC programs in the southeast. Presently A&M and Missouri don't have any Big 12 programs scheduled through the end of the decade.

That doesn't mean that they don't have room to schedule some if they choose. Missouri only has five OOC games on their future schedules for the next five years. They play Memphis and Wyoming home and home, plus Arkansas State away. I'm assuming they have been waiting to see what the SEC decided to do about league schedules before committing any more games. Now that they know, they have 15 slots to fill. Thanks to their strategic geographic location, they have great possibilities with both the B1G and Big 12.

(05-12-2014 11:09 AM)Dasville Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:04 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

With Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Louisville off the market I cannot imagine how the SEC West schools would favor regular home/home games with the remaining ACC schools.

Who said we're off the table? We already have 2 SEC teams on our schedule the year after next.

Don't you guys have an annual game with Kentucky?

It is possible that some ACC / SEC schools could play two from the other conference each season. Georgia and Clemson already do this as they play each other as well as their cross conference rival. Louisville has Auburn and Kentucky next season.
CJ

(05-12-2014 11:12 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:09 AM)Dasville Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:04 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:31 AM)bluesox Wrote:  6 pretty attractive school's for the sec:

UVA and
Vtech and
UNC and
NC State and
Miami and
Wake and Vandy

BC, Cuse maybe in nyc, and pitt provide good road trips + i'm sure sec school's would love to crush duke, ha.

ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

With Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Louisville off the market I cannot imagine how the SEC West schools would favor regular home/home games with the remaining ACC schools.

Who said we're off the table? We already have 2 SEC teams on our schedule the year after next.

Don't you guys have an annual game with Kentucky?

Yes we do, and that should not prevent us from playing other teams in the SEC.

Texas A&M doesn't have a P5 opponent OOC this year. But starting in 2015 they are scheduled to play a PAC 12 opponent for the next five years (Arizona St next year, then home and home against UCLA and Oregon). They don't need a permanent rival, and have obviously chosen to eschew their natural rivalry with UT for the foreseeable future.

(05-12-2014 11:20 AM)Dasville Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:12 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:09 AM)Dasville Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 11:04 AM)EerMeNow Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 09:37 AM)Tbringer Wrote:  ehh, after VT there aren't really any football programs that stand out for attractive ongoing yearly series.

We'll probably see all the P5 conferences scheduling against one another.

With Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Louisville off the market I cannot imagine how the SEC West schools would favor regular home/home games with the remaining ACC schools.

Who said we're off the table? We already have 2 SEC teams on our schedule the year after next.

Don't you guys have an annual game with Kentucky?

Yes we do, and that should not prevent us from playing other teams in the SEC.

Fair enough. But I still cannot imagine SEC West schools favoring any type of agreement that force them play annual home/home series against the less attractive ACC schools. Maybe the new era will prove me wrong.

(05-12-2014 10:59 AM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I can't imagine A&M or Mizzou being too excited about playing Big 12 programs that they abandoned when they jumped to The SEC. I would expect to see both play more more ACC programs in the southeast. Presently A&M and Missouri don't have any Big 12 programs scheduled through the end of the decade.

A&M definitely wants nothing to do with the Big 12 at the moment. That's pretty obvious.

On the other hand, I don't see Mizzou being militant like that. I think they'd be game to use an OOC slot to regularly play a rotation of Nebraska, Illinois and the current Big 12 teams (sans WVU.) Gives them a regional OOC game against P5 opponents that they have history with. In some cases they have a lot of history. In others less so but it ensures they're playing in Texas as regularly as possible.