Quote:
Originally Posted by Wickedson
Yes, getting those 4 schools would be a tremendous haul. I wouldn't be so sure the ACC is just going to "break up" though. There is too much tradition between so many of those schools just to give it up. Most of the schools we see changing conferences don't value their past and I'm not sure the ACC guys fit into that category. They have accomplished too much where they are. They will hold strong just like the core of the Big 12 has...
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Depends on which schools. Consider this, Maryland is in deep financial trouble and the new ACC contract they are trying to finalize isn't going to solve what ails them, making them prime for the picking.
If FSU (who announced financial shortfalls as well despite one of their best all around seasons in history) and Clemson say no to an ACC GoR and instead go t the Big XII, it could start off a domino effect.
The SEC has "an alignment problem" with Missouri. I saw one SEC article that intimated that the Missouri in the East Division would be temporary until they add two more. They want states outside their footprint that increase their market share for the network they want to put together. Virginia Tech and NC State fit this scenario to a T.
Now, the ACC has lost four members and its ability to host a championship game, which would probably put their contract with ESPN in jeopardy. This makes the other schools who think they have something valuable (a football brand, not many left unless you include G Tech and Miami or TV market share, like G Tech, Maryland, Miami, and Virginia). The Big East is also shaky exposing teams like Rutgers and Louisville.
Guess who has spots to fill: the B!G and the Big 12. If I had to guess:
B!G : Rutgers, Maryland, UNC and Virginia/G-Tech
Big XII : Louisville and Miami/G-Tech
But it all depends on who moves first and what Notre Dame does, if anything.
After that, the remaining ACC and BEAST teams form a basketball first conference. UNC will part with Duke as long as they are guaranteed to continue the series with them. Hell, the B!G might even take Duke if they go the UNC route.
There is definite unrest in Clemson about the ACC and FSU regarding being undervalued in a basketball conference. Maryland needs cash. Sometimes, tradition only goes so far.