Hey, you have to give credit where credit is due. This time last year the entire universe believed that the ESPN media agreement ran through June 2036. It wasn't until the FSU attorney's did their due diligence reviewing the "hidden" document at ACC HQ in Charlotte that the information was disseminated that the CURRENT ESPN media agreement runs only through June 30, 2027. It wasn't until that same review by both FSU & Clemson attorneys that the information began to be circulated regarding the "option to extend" the media agreement a). having expired in January 2021 and b). having been UNILATERALLY EXTENDED by the ACC president in August 2021 until 2/25.
So instead of looking at "being locked in" to the ACC until 2036 we are realistically looking at 2027 as being the "worst case" commitment at present. THEN the information that has been leaked regarding the ESPN media agreement ... that apparently states "this agreement remains in effect only as long as the institution remains a member of the conference" ... meaning that ESPN has the right to broadcast an ACC member's games ONLY while they are in the ACC conference. Once you leave ... you leave WITH YOUR FUTURE MEDIA RIGHTS. This is a 180 degree turn on the BELIEFS that were held by virtually everyone until FSU launched their legal action. NOW the belief is ... you can leave when you want WITH your future media rights 100% in tact ... only having to pay the ACC exit fee (which should be negotiable as with Maryland). The ONLY thing keeping members IN the ACC currently, not filing to get out, is the specter of not having a suitable landing place in the P2.
My hope is that the UM administration IS doing something back channel, and that the UM brand is not viewed with such current disdain by the networks due to the past 20 years of national irrelevance, that we CAN get an invite to the Big 10, at least at a partial share, and get out WITH FSU. Now.
