As unlikely as Stanford's endowment buying SMU outright. Sure, it gives them access to the fastest growing metro are in the nation, but universities aren't that predatory.
Yes, I could see a sweetheart deal of sorts but one that is less based on brand perception and more on viewership and other factors. It would amount to unequal distributions, essentially.
If anything, they would get a higher guaranteed payout but with smaller incentives. The rest could get lower payouts but with larger incentives.
It will take something like this to lure them into the AAC. I don’t think thst it will matter as most likely they will be going indy.
(08-22-2023 03:55 PM)oliveandblue Wrote: Memphis and Tulane would walk. Probably would lose Navy, Temple, ECU, and USF too. Tulsa might call the MW.
Walk to where? The AAC members have nowhere else to go.
I don't see any sweetheart deal unless ESPN offers them special money. Would I care about that? Maybe. Maybe not.
To their backyards and come back when they realize they have no better options.
ECU and USF could join the Sunbelt tomorrow. I am sure that Temple could rejoin the MAC and maybe take UMass with them for all sports. Then Navy would just go back to being independent in football. Would that be worse than staying in the version of the AAC?
No way is UMass joining the MAC for all sports. They already turned down that offer once. In basketball and olympic sports, they view the A-10 as superior to the MAC. And they're not wrong.
The only possible way UMass winds up back in the MAC is for football only.
I wouldn't say never at this point. Opinions have changed slightly, and if someone like Temple or UDel went, it would be a situation most fans could live with.
(08-22-2023 03:57 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote: You think that that Pac 4 would prefer to join the AAC instead of rebuilding the Pac?
People overestimated the ACC 2 years ago when they openly declared that the ACC was raiding the Big 12. Now? Most of the ACC gets $2m a year, while the Big 12 gets $31.7m, plus a whole lot more from bowls, NCAAT units, and CFP money, among other things. Call it $50m vs $5m total. The new Pac won't sniff $50m, but they'll get $30m a year for a couple years, then perhaps drop down to $20-25m a year after that. Still 5x what the AAC has, and, let's remember that the AAC lost their 3 top brands last year and replaced them with 6 CUSA schools...it's not really the same AAC that originally signed that deal with ESPN.
Your numbers are a little off. The Big 12 reported revenues of $440 million. The ACC reported revenue of $617 million.
The 10 member per team distribution of The Big 12 has kept the conference ahead of The ACC. With the new contract The Big 12 will pay 31.6 million through 2031.
The ACC contract has escalating payments through 2036. ACC payout this year was $39.5 million (15 teams).
When The ACC contract extension was signed in 2016, the projection was $40 million in 2027. (The payouts are running ahead of projection.) The 2031 projection is $46 million and 2036 is $56 million.
In the end this is like arguing about who has the best seat on the Titanic. When it’s all said and done The Big 12 and The ACC will both be some $40 or more behind The Big Ten and The SEC.
(08-22-2023 03:50 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: The Stanford-SMU relationship has been one of the more interesting developments in recent realignment news.
Stanford-SMU relationship seems stronger than Stanford-Wazzu. Schultz openly complaining about waiting on Stanford. To me that proves Stanford-Wazzu relationship is rocky at best, completely over at worst.
ACC Invite for Stanford-SMU is unlikely.
Could Stanford-SMU relationship lead to an American (AAC) Sweetheart deal?
- All the smaller AAC brands benefit from the Brand Recognition Stanford brings to the conference. So much so, I think a sweetheart deal is justified.
- SMU is the strongest brand name remaining in the AAC. They are threatening to leave for ACC or help build a new PAC. Giving SMU a Sweetheart deal with Stanford locks them both in.
- AAC would becomes a conference with national footprint with Stanford addition
- ESPN already has a relationship with AAC
I don't see the value of rebuilding the PAC without a major media company backing them.
I don't see the value of going independent with such short notice. You would be hard pressed for time to create a 2024 Schedule. Then you would need to find a Media Partner to buy you're home games. Then after all that, you need to find a Bowl Partner in the event of a winning season. All while hoping players don't transfer and coaches don't accept offers from programs in a more stable financial situation.
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AAC Sweetheart deal for Stanford and SMU?
