Is this option of minimum 6 withdraw for football only league possibly the best path for all parties involved? Where the 8-12 programs move on to this, keep rest of the sports in ACC, get new tv deal, pay the exit fee, etc etc help out to stabilize everything that could be up in the air.

Where ACC then offers say UConn, Army, Navy, Air Force football only to refill the lineup, which should bring a good chunk of audience for a revised tv deal plus their 75 mil per team exit fee should reset their treasure chest pretty well.

The new Super League, schedules some games with each other, with traditional ACC, with ND, with rivals, etc...stays together for 3 years, maybe 6, or maybe just stays together infinitely. Has a new tv deal(s), has room to expand or just move on from this new partnership to SEC/Big 10 when the time is right for some of them. Or on to Big 12, or back to ACC if thats also the best fit in the future.

This new option created from the FSU/Clemson lawsuit seems like it should be exercised this upcoming June and put into action July 2028.

You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Likewise.

I’m not ready to go as far as the OP does in suggesting it as a kind of Plan A. The schools give every indication of really, really not wanting to go the route of football independence. But if squeezed in certain ways by PCSA enactment, they do know this provision exists and they will explore it. As Miami’s president indicated, this is business. The top priority for all is to meet their own institution’s needs.

(10-26-2026 09:55 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Likewise.

I’m not ready to go as far as the OP does in suggesting it as a kind of Plan A. The schools give every indication of really, really not wanting to go the route of football independence. But if squeezed in certain ways by PCSA enactment, they do know this provision exists and they will explore it. As Miami’s president indicated, this is business. The top priority for all is to meet their own institution’s needs.

Is it possible that this particular path/option could be the best conclusion to all of this mess for all ACC schools? Where its not SEC/Big 10 landing spot, but its more money, flexible scheduling, etc etc for the 1 sport league...then the rest get paid and refill with schools and the ACC traditional becomes a graduated G6.

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Here is the problem:

The ACC allows them to leave at a reduced rate to play in a football-only conference.

The PCSA does not allow a football-only conference where A4 schools bundle together. This is what got the B1G and SEC to support the bill. They fear a "P1", and the ACC football-only escape hatch is affected by this even though it wouldn't be a "P1"

So the ACC schools can't leave at a reduced rate to play in this Indy League idea because it is not a football-only conference, and the PCSA bans a new A4 conference.

(10-26-2026 11:36 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 09:55 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Likewise.

I’m not ready to go as far as the OP does in suggesting it as a kind of Plan A. The schools give every indication of really, really not wanting to go the route of football independence. But if squeezed in certain ways by PCSA enactment, they do know this provision exists and they will explore it. As Miami’s president indicated, this is business. The top priority for all is to meet their own institution’s needs.

Is it possible that this particular path/option could be the best conclusion to all of this mess for all ACC schools? Where its not SEC/Big 10 landing spot, but its more money, flexible scheduling, etc etc for the 1 sport league...then the rest get paid and refill with schools and the ACC traditional becomes a graduated G6.

It’s possible. Only the media companies know for sure.

(10-26-2026 11:43 AM)Dr Dawgma III Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Here is the problem:

The ACC allows them to leave at a reduced rate to play in a football-only conference.

The PCSA does not allow a football-only conference where A4 schools bundle together. This is what got the B1G and SEC to support the bill. They fear a "P1", and the ACC football-only escape hatch is affected by this even though it wouldn't be a "P1"

So the ACC schools can't leave at a reduced rate to play in this Indy League idea because it is not a football-only conference, and the PCSA bans a new A4 conference.

Ah, I wasn't aware the PCSA expressly prohibits this.

I would think schools would want to push back on that clause being shut down by PCSA...especially if its an already built in solution for the 3 year independent period being dropped in there by the masses...Now, if the ACC specific clause gets reduced to 3 year minimum-6 year max (sunsetting), and not allowed to just stay in there for indefinite period and invite non-ACC friends to join, that could certainly be shot down I guess.

(10-26-2026 11:43 AM)Dr Dawgma III Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Here is the problem:

The ACC allows them to leave at a reduced rate to play in a football-only conference.

The PCSA does not allow a football-only conference where A4 schools bundle together. This is what got the B1G and SEC to support the bill. They fear a "P1", and the ACC football-only escape hatch is affected by this even though it wouldn't be a "P1"

So the ACC schools can't leave at a reduced rate to play in this Indy League idea because it is not a football-only conference, and the PCSA bans a new A4 conference.

each departing member would negotiate sale of retrieved tv rights separately ...
btw ...
amazon executive chairman resides in Miami ...
his stepson attends UM ...
it's on prime ...

MAKING A BUNDLE

Does anyone know about this guy? Looks like a Tar Heels fan.

(10-26-2026 04:34 PM)green Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 11:43 AM)Dr Dawgma III Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Here is the problem:

The ACC allows them to leave at a reduced rate to play in a football-only conference.

The PCSA does not allow a football-only conference where A4 schools bundle together. This is what got the B1G and SEC to support the bill. They fear a "P1", and the ACC football-only escape hatch is affected by this even though it wouldn't be a "P1"

So the ACC schools can't leave at a reduced rate to play in this Indy League idea because it is not a football-only conference, and the PCSA bans a new A4 conference.

each departing member would negotiate sale of retrieved tv rights separately ...
btw ...
amazon executive chairman resides in Miami ...
his stepson attends UM ...
it's on prime ...

MAKING A BUNDLE

Yes, it’s possible they try to skirt around it. But it’s also a slap in the face to the PCSA and it would take a coordinated effort, which sure looks like a bundle, and would be against the law.

(10-26-2026 05:59 PM)random asian guy Wrote:  Does anyone know about this guy? Looks like a Tar Heels fan.

A Jackets fan promptly claimed GT is also in the group—but I don’t know who this person is, either.

If this group really exists, and if Georgia Tech is in it, the group does not correspond exactly with the (published) Mag 7 list.

Some of the stuff people claim about the PCSA makes me scratch my head...

With my chat with Gemini post mid terms about the PCSA being buried, I then asked how ACC schools that are serious about football and have good/great national value should now do, so to not get too far behind, and it agreed with this idea of forming the 1 sport league.

It suggested 8 schools, FSU, Miami, UNC, Clemson, UVA, VTech, NC State, and Louisville, go start this up asap, get a 2-4 game a week tv deal with NBC, CBS, or Fox with an annual revenue of $450 million and a streaming outlet at $200 million, and also partner up with Private Equity to pay the 75 mil each in exit fees as its stake into this new set up.....

After paying the PE, each of the 8 schools would receive 70-75 million annually while playing 7 game round robin, rivals, ND when in rotation, traditional ACC schools, and a P4 big ratings game on an annual basis.

I don't agree with Gemini's 8 if we are strictly going with the top ACC football brands, but let's assume that these are the unanimous top 8. Is this schedule a lot better than the thing now? There are (as as we know) 4 members that are malcontent, what are they making now? Is it worth paying $75m each so you can do this?

I think there are win-win solutions that gives everybody mostly what they want without paying $75m to do it. You are still filling out the rest of your schedule with these schools you just gave F off money to. The most intriguing part to me is the breakaway from ESPN. If this was some elaborate plan to establish a relationship with NBC and bring the rest of the ACC with you later after the ACC contract expired, then that's something I'd consider.

(10-25-2026 09:53 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Is this option of minimum 6 withdraw for football only league possibly the best path for all parties involved? Where the 8-12 programs move on to this, keep rest of the sports in ACC, get new tv deal, pay the exit fee, etc etc help out to stabilize everything that could be up in the air.

Where ACC then offers say UConn, Army, Navy, Air Force football only to refill the lineup, which should bring a good chunk of audience for a revised tv deal plus their 75 mil per team exit fee should reset their treasure chest pretty well.

The new Super League, schedules some games with each other, with traditional ACC, with ND, with rivals, etc...stays together for 3 years, maybe 6, or maybe just stays together infinitely. Has a new tv deal(s), has room to expand or just move on from this new partnership to SEC/Big 10 when the time is right for some of them. Or on to Big 12, or back to ACC if thats also the best fit in the future.

This new option created from the FSU/Clemson lawsuit seems like it should be exercised this upcoming June and put into action July 2028.

Let's assume that 9 schools exercise this option, leaving the ACC with 8 football members plus Notre Dame for Olympic sports. If I had to guess, Notre Dame would argue that this is no longer the ACC that they committed to play 5 football games a year against. I would also guess that ESPN would insist on a new contract for the remaining schools, at a dramatically reduced annual payout. I would guess something along the lines of $10-15 million a year max, less if they backfill with those G6 teams. I doubt those 8 could persuade any Big 12 teams to join them, and I'm not sure those four G6 schools would join either.

Would Notre Dame have legal grounds for leaving the ACC entirely without paying an exit penalty in this scenario? And, if so, would the other 8 schools also have those same grounds?

If we assume the PCSA passes with a cap of 20 teams for a P4 conference, then only 6 ACC schools could have the necessary P2 invitation in hand for this to make sense for them. And, they would not be a conference, they would be 6 independent schools who could, presumably, negotiate a joint media contract (probably at no more than their current payout) to cover the interim period between ACC membership and P2 membership. They wouldn't have a guaranteed spot in the CFP, but could qualify at-large.

If that were the case, then I suppose NC State and Virginia Tech would be the two schools left behind in an 11 team ACC. To maintain their ESPN media contract the ACC would be required to add several G6 schools (for which it's not clear if they would be added pro rata), with no guarantee that they could come close to their current payout once 2036 rolls around.

With only 5 games guaranteed if they all play round robin, plus an annual rival outside their group, they need 6 more (5 for Clemson) games a year during their 3 year purgatory. They could probably cobble that together, but it wouldn't be easy, and probably include opponents they'd rather not play.

I believe this "solution" is a long shot at best.

(10-26-2026 09:55 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 08:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-26-2026 05:50 AM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(10-25-2026 10:21 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  You can't have football in one league and the rest in the ACC if the ACC continues to sponsor football. The football schools would have to be independent ala Notre Dame.

Pretty sure the new withdraw option that FSU/Clemson got from their lawsuit allows for 6+ schools to relocate their football teams or another 1 sport into a separate "super league" and keep rest of sports in ACC. Now, the ACC traditional would still keep the playoff access spot and the new super league would have to negotiate access to the playoffs like Notre Dame has. But there's nothing stopping 6+ to leave, play each other and keep rest of sports with ACC with this new clause.

That is my understanding as well.

Likewise.

I’m not ready to go as far as the OP does in suggesting it as a kind of Plan A. The schools give every indication of really, really not wanting to go the route of football independence. But if squeezed in certain ways by PCSA enactment, they do know this provision exists and they will explore it. As Miami’s president indicated, this is business. The top priority for all is to meet their own institution’s needs.

Why not?

ND fans have been told for decades how easy it is and what an unfair advantage it creates.

Why wouldn't other schools be eager to get on this easy gravy train?