(12-18-2017 03:31 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(12-17-2017 05:59 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(12-17-2017 03:24 PM)JRsec Wrote:  Let's get back on track shall we. ESPN now holds the T3 on everyone in the Big 12 except WVU and ISU.

I pointed out months ago that if ESPN picked up all of the Texas products' rights and that of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State they would control in those schools 32 million viewers.

If ESPN follows suit they'll likely make the move to place those schools in the SEC/ACC.

Forget the Big 10 for a moment and forget the PAC.

By taking the SEC and ACC to 18 ESPN can set their markets for the two respective networks.

Maybe you see a move like Baylor, Texas, T.C.U. and Notre Dame to the ACC, and Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Kansas to the SEC. Why? Because football popularity is the strongest in the Southeast and that product lineup will last the longest as the sport begins to fade.

SEC:

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech

Alabama, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee

ACC:

Baylor, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Texas, T.C.U.

Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia, Wake Forest

Boston College, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech


This groups the major brands and population centers into 6 competitive divisions and covers the states in which football experiences its greatest number of recruits, greatest following in terms of attendance and viewership, and greatest overall popularity and participation.

With divisions like these set among the two main college sports properties in ESPN's possession it will set the table long term to be successful even if football contracts.

The few major programs likely to continue to pump money into the sport are in the Big 10 and those could be easily assimilated into these two groupings (or redivided with them) at a later time if need be. (Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin)

I don't think you would get too many complaints from our side of the ledger with that configuration.

Looks good except Clemson would likely have to choose between FSU and GT as a permanent rival. The GT series has nearly 90 games played and the FSU game has become a great rivalry, especially the past 10 years.

No offense but Clemson would be crazy to give up their annual game with Georgia Tech to play FSU.