RE: Is a P4 now a best case scenario for the ACC?
Imo P4 chances decreased with FOX getting other OTAs to back their league.
Worthy plays in its own right, but possible in part because their won't be much else left to bid on (aka BIG expansion)? That would be an effective way for FOX to use expansion to get the BIG to the NFL model. Grow the conference to a national league of top schools in most major CFB markets backed by OTAs. Now they don't need to, but if BIG adds 3-4 PAC, they have enough to fill slots with regional BIG games to go against national BIG games. Unless, you're not having shoulder, which is possible, losing views to other BIG better than losing to another conference imo
With ESPN being out on BIG, ESPN needs to turn to further consolidation imo. They'll have the budget headroom.
They are in a viewership battle with OTAs. Moving Clemson, FSU, Miami etc to SEC is more important now- they need to rig the schedule of their assets to consistently produce big games. Having Clemson play leftover level brands is a waste.
And in the leftover world, paying for three weak conferences is inefficient. Two need to go if under ESPN. ESPN has the ACC position already, and the ACC Network.
I think the name is mostly arbitrary. If ESPN is needing to consolidate ACC P2 level brands into SEC, do they really build around a conference in which the leftovers of Wake vs Pitt were out viewed by the American conference title game? (yes, the American had playoff implications)
If repurposing the ACC Network (change the name) is not desired, there is value in moving the Big 12 plus 4 corners into the gutted ACC (assuming the BIG expands with 4, and 4 ACC go to SEC). 2 Big 12 schools, likely ISU, KSU, or maybe Tech are out. That adds a lot of markets for "ACC" Network, which may get bundled with the SEC Network imo. The ACC leftovers are happy to not be out cold come 2036, and maybe even making more on balance of GOR given market additions, exit fees, and some paying off by former conference mates.
In reality, none of the weaker P5s survived. If the P2s go past 20 on a quest to make it even easier to grab more of CFP and CBB postseasons, if not start their own for their benefactor, all bets are off.
|