MEGA Conference Realignment and lawsuits Megathread: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations

[JD08]

The only way the ACC can survive middle to long term is to keep teams in by making it worth their while, not by trying to bankrupt them if they try to leave.

 

[Jonnyblaze]

They have more revenue. Their game experience is pitiful.

So, financially, yes. But what else? They don't win. They have no rivalries. They don't recruit. The point of being a sports fan is not to have your athletic department with a healthy balance sheet. It's to win, have fun tailgates and keep up with your teams.

I grew up in md, a big terps fan, and their home football games now are sad. Nothing but OSU, Penn state, Michigan etc fans. Basketball is a bit better but it's not like the old Duke, UVA and UNC rivalries.

For a lot of the lesser schools financial stability IS the goal. Despite an occasional 9 win season here and there programs like Rutgers and Maryland have never won in football and never will. They fully understand that. They also understand that being in the Big Ten allows them to fund a lot of things beyond football.

 

[Yoyo423]

For a lot of the lesser schools financial stability IS the goal. Despite an occasional 9 win season here and there programs like Rutgers and Maryland have never won in football and never will. They fully understand that. They also understand that being in the Big Ten allows them to fund a lot of things beyond football.

same reason we joined the ACC 20+ years ago...

 

[Rickd]

Supposedly changes to the GOR for 2031 are being discussed in order to get FSU and Clemson to agree to drop/settle their lawsuits. I believe the ACC feels pretty confident that they would prevail, but guessing they probably think it is not worth the risk that they wouldn't.

From everything "commented" on ... it was first and foremost an attempt at a negotiated settlement and nobody is certain if the two sides (ACC and FSU / Clemson ... other ACC members) have reached a final determination but it has been alluded to by several different media individuals that part of the AGREEMENT, in addition to the supposed formula(s) on unequal pay distribution, is a significant reduction in exit fee for schools leaving for the P2 in the next round of P2 media contracts. It has been also "reported" that the ACC has already identified and vetted the 4-6 schools that they would backfill the ACC with at that time (USF and Memphis being two).

 

[Shogungts]

From everything "commented" on ... it was first and foremost an attempt at a negotiated settlement and nobody is certain if the two sides (ACC and FSU / Clemson ... other ACC members) have reached a final determination but it has been alluded to by several different media individuals that part of the AGREEMENT, in addition to the supposed formula(s) on unequal pay distribution, is a significant reduction in exit fee for schools leaving for the P2 in the next round of P2 media contracts. It has been also "reported" that the ACC has already identified and vetted the 4-6 schools that they would backfill the ACC with at that time (USF and Memphis being two).

Yeah - I hadn't heard the backfill schools, but did hear about the GOR stuff from Ross Dellinger who is one of the most plugged in college football analysts for the behind the scenes stuff.

 

[CaneinBroward]

The only way the ACC can survive middle to long term is to keep teams in by making it worth their while, not by trying to bankrupt them if they try to leave.

That is if the ACC can even make it worth their while to begin with. And if they can make it worth their while, will they be bankrupting the mid to lower tier schools to do it?

These next 5 years will be interesting to watch for the ACC survivability as well as the power given to the P2 by the now group of 8. Personally, would love to see a little spine shown by the ACC, Big XII, and the rest of the group of 8. Although, I think the ACC is officially in the bag though as I'm sure ESPN continued the ACC TV deal with ACC's assurance they won't stand in the way of any changes to the playoff that the P2 wants. We'll see.

 

[JD08]

That is if the ACC can even make it worth their while to begin with. And if they can make it worth their while, will they be bankrupting the mid to lower tier schools to do it?

These next 5 years will be interesting to watch for the ACC survivability as well as the power given to the P2 by the now group of 8. Personally, would love to see a little spine shown by the ACC, Big XII, and the rest of the group of 8. Although, I think the ACC is officially in the bag though as I'm sure ESPN continued the ACC TV deal with ACC's assurance they won't stand in the way of any changes to the playoff that the P2 wants. We'll see.

ESPN is viewed as the 800 lb gorilla, but the Big 10 is doing just fine without them. ESPN went for quantity, CBS/Fox went for quality.

I suspect a lot will depend on the Big 10' contract more than any other.

 

[NorthernVirginiaCane]

That is if the ACC can even make it worth their while to begin with. And if they can make it worth their while, will they be bankrupting the mid to lower tier schools to do it?

These next 5 years will be interesting to watch for the ACC survivability as well as the power given to the P2 by the now group of 8. Personally, would love to see a little spine shown by the ACC, Big XII, and the rest of the group of 8. Although, I think the ACC is officially in the bag though as I'm sure ESPN continued the ACC TV deal with ACC's assurance they won't stand in the way of any changes to the playoff that the P2 wants. We'll see.

The money for the brands will be new revenue, the ****** programs won't take less.

And the GOR isn't up in 2030 or '31. That makes no sense. They are better off going to trial.

 

[CaneinBroward]

The money for the brands will be new revenue, the ****** programs won't take less.

And the GOR isn't up in 2030 or '31. That makes no sense. They are better off going to trial.

What new revenue? ESPN is increasing the payout to the ACC? I thought it was just agreeing to keep the existing agreement active through 2036.

And yes, I was just going on the assumption that FSU and Clemson agreed to play nice in exchange for a relaxed GOR in 2031 as is being speculated on here. If not, yes, keep the trial going.

 

[Rickd]

The money for the brands will be new revenue, the ****** programs won't take less.

And the GOR isn't up in 2030 or '31. That makes no sense. They are better off going to trial.

Fact is at this moment nobody outside of the ACC presidents (who aren't talking), ESPN and the ACC president have a real understanding as to what has been or is continuing to be negotiated. There was a Big Mountain podcast on Monday ( a couple of guys who are B10 connected) and their contention based on input from one B10 program is that a). The B10 definitely wants to get into Florida as soon as possible ... but without getting involved in any of the ACC litigation. b). Prime target is FSU but Miami is also desired (he called them 1a and 1b). c). the 2030 -31 time slot, meshing with the new media contracts for the B10 and SEC is "the window". d). ESPN controls the process ... and will "likely" take 2-4 ACC schools with possibly 2 going to the B10".

Again ... it is ESPN that "controls the timing and process" and currently has solidified its control over the ACC programs ... until ESPN is ready for the next "realignment" to take place. Horse trading is (and will be) the name of the game. A reduced (or zero) exit fee might be negotiated "under certain conditions" that make ESPN happy, and guarantee that the FUTURE ACC continues with a decent agreement for a restructured ACC with backfill teams like USF / Memphis.

 

[rascon]

What new revenue? ESPN is increasing the payout to the ACC? I thought it was just agreeing to keep the existing agreement active through 2036.

And yes, I was just going on the assumption that FSU and Clemson agreed to play nice in exchange for a relaxed GOR in 2031 as is being speculated on here. If not, yes, keep the trial going.

I didn’t think there was any new revenue either (unless there is extra revenue for the new teams). I understood that ESPN is opting in to their current deal and that the ACC is going change how it’s distributed. Instead of all teams getting exact same cut out of 100 percent of the revenues designated for the schools, they will instead only get same cut of 70-80 percent of the revenue designated for the schools and the remaining 20-30 percent will be allocated based on new metrics, such as viewership, etc.

If each team was getting 45 million, instead it will get 36-37 million with something like 100-120 million up for grabs. If top 5 teams take in extra 20 mil, that would put them in the 55 million range. I suspect that number will a little higher over the next few years as several schools are only 50 percent share and SMU is taking less. But I imagine that money will be distributed evenly so probably only a $3-5 million boost in the short term.

Still way behind the P2, but maybe enough to tide them over until full realignment takes place?

 

[rascon]

Fact is at this moment nobody outside of the ACC presidents (who aren't talking), ESPN and the ACC president have a real understanding as to what has been or is continuing to be negotiated. There was a Big Mountain podcast on Monday ( a couple of guys who are B10 connected) and their contention based on input from one B10 program is that a). The B10 definitely wants to get into Florida as soon as possible ... but without getting involved in any of the ACC litigation. b). Prime target is FSU but Miami is also desired (he called them 1a and 1b). c). the 2030 -31 time slot, meshing with the new media contracts for the B10 and SEC is "the window". d). ESPN controls the process ... and will "likely" take 2-4 ACC schools with possibly 2 going to the B10".

Again ... it is ESPN that "controls the timing and process" and currently has solidified its control over the ACC programs ... until ESPN is ready for the next "realignment" to take place. Horse trading is (and will be) the name of the game. A reduced (or zero) exit fee might be negotiated "under certain conditions" that make ESPN happy, and guarantee that the FUTURE ACC continues with a decent agreement for a restructured ACC with backfill teams like USF / Memphis.

I agree with most, but depending on how P2 realignment goes, the continued partnership with ACC after realignment might not appeal to ESPN. I could easily see them letting them go after they right-size the P2.

ESPN might have thrown ACC a lifeline with this opt in, allowing them a reprieve from eventually having to go looking for a new media partner once ESPN right sizes the P2.

 

[NE Canes]

Again ... it is ESPN that "controls the timing and process" and currently has solidified its control over the ACC programs ... until ESPN is ready for the next "realignment" to take place. Horse trading is (and will be) the name of the game. A reduced (or zero) exit fee might be negotiated "under certain conditions" that make ESPN happy, and guarantee that the FUTURE ACC continues with a decent agreement for a restructured ACC with backfill teams like USF / Memphis.

This right here.

The networks are pushing and controlling the realignment efforts as they always have been. Change is coming but it is the change the networks want, not a single school or conference.

The networks are working with the conferences to plan and make changes and when they have the alignment they want then change will happen. Schools are not moving into the B1G or the SEC without the blessing of the networks. Only the schools the networks want will be moving.