Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[cykadelic2]

I mean you were adamant for a long time ESPN was dropping it due to collusion and purposefully wanting to break up the ACC and Big12. You were pretty relentless about it.

ESPN is in just to dire of financial straits to turn down that steal of a deal and have been for awhile

It is cheaper and more efficient for ESPN pay an SEC premium for 2-4 ACC schools starting in 2027 and let the other 10-12 ACC schools hung out to dry with sub $10M/yr payouts starting in 2027 from them or another network.

That is why those 10-12 ACC schools are pursuing a settlement but FSU and Clemson are against it for obvious reasons.

 

[Cyclonsin]

It is cheaper and more efficient for ESPN pay an SEC premium for 2-4 ACC schools starting in 2027 and let the other 10-12 ACC schools hung out to dry with sub $10M/yr payouts starting in 2027 from them or another network.

Correct, but the SEC has to want them.

I don't think they do.

 

[cykadelic2]

Correct, but the SEC has to want them.

I don't think they do.

They (i.e. ESPN) will want them sometime this decade hence the settlement negotiations and they will make it worthwhile to their puppet, Sankey, and the SEC.

 

[Clonehomer]

It is cheaper and more efficient for ESPN pay an SEC premium for 2-4 ACC schools starting in 2027 and let the other 10-12 ACC schools hung out to dry with sub $10M/yr payouts starting in 2027 from them or another network.

That is why those 10-12 ACC schools are pursuing a settlement but FSU and Clemson are against it for obvious reasons.

It is cheaper. But it’s also risky that they’ll lose those games to another network. ESPN needs more than just the top games to fill their timeslots.

And it becomes even more risky when you factor in that ESPN also needs to keep MBB content. Losing the ACC would be a big hit in viewership once football is done.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

It is cheaper. But it’s also risky that they’ll lose those games to another network. ESPN needs more than just the top games to fill their timeslots.

And it becomes even more risky when you factor in that ESPN also needs to keep MBB content. Losing the ACC would be a big hit in viewership once football is done.

DING! DING! DING!

ESPN doesn't own enough content to fill football Saturdays and, especially, all of the college basketball slots without the ACC. They lost the Big Ten, they're losing a big chunk of the Big 12 and the Big East is most likely re-upping with FOX/CBS Sports Net. Plus TNT/WBD wants in on college sports bad and they've got money to spend after losing the NBA.

They'd be insane to not exercise the option even if they have to pay a little more for it after renegotiation. There's a lot of value in keeping Duke and Carolina hoops basically exclusively.

 

[Kinch]

Lol this is effing ridiculous
Seriously what are we doing here

Switzer joins Big 10 Legend Coach Tom Osborne.

 

[ClubCy]

Strictly talking about football here but the ACC Network is long gone if they don’t pick up the option….are they losing that much inventory? I haven’t done a deep dive but majority of the ACC games have been in the ACC network this year sans 1-2 games on an actual ESPN channel and 1 maybe 2 games on the CW.

Can’t remember which national pod I was listening to but they were basically like “does it feel like ACC games are never on main broadcast channels?” And it made me think I have barely watched any ACC games at all outside of the Clemson or Miami game they put on a major network at 11am.

 

[Kinch]

Should Put the Big 10 logo on OJ‘s bronco.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I might not be happy with the results, but let it be proven on the field and not the board room!

CFB has never had parity, I will agree with that. But it should be the goal to create structures where CFB moves toward parity. The NFL does it with the draft, scheduling, free agency, media revenue sharing and salary cap.

The issue is the Big10 & SEC are trying to move college football farther away from parity on a competitive balance spectrum. And IMO it will stunt the growth of CFB and it's possible we will see decline in CFB attendance and ratings over the next 7-12 years. And eventually they will try to do the same with college hoops.

The other reality is it might not matter. Realignment isn't done and the Big10/SEC can just continue to poach teams from the Big12 & ACC to the point where what's left of both conferences will put them on par with the MWC and AAC.

The last part is the what the SEC and B10 are planning, its only a matter of when not if. Break up the ACC and then take any deserving B12 teams and then either break away for football or just have an NFL light system where they only play each other for their P2 games.

 

[Cloneon]

The last part is the what the SEC and B10 are planning, its only a matter of when not if. Break up the ACC and then take any deserving B12 teams and then either break away for football or just have an NFL light system where they only play each other for their P2 games.

I find it interesting that we still refer to this aggregation of power schools as the B1G and SEC when, in fact, it's entirely controlled by the media. The question revolves around 'content' for the media giants, but even that must come under scrutiny. For if it were that profitable, others would have already joined in the competition. IMO, we should take a step back and let the media play its next hand. I'm fairly convinced the media even wants to stand pat to see what this last alignment has in store from a profitability standpoint. The key to the failure of most established businesses is being 'over-extended'. Has Fox and ESPN over extended themselves in the CFB market? I don't think so, but I would be patient for 2-5 years before making an even larger leap into this risky venture.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

The last part is the what the SEC and B10 are planning, its only a matter of when not if. Break up the ACC and then take any deserving B12 teams and then either break away for football or just have an NFL light system where they only play each other for their P2 games.

the "deserving" B12 teams have already been taken.

 

[cykadelic2]

It is cheaper. But it’s also risky that they’ll lose those games to another network. ESPN needs more than just the top games to fill their timeslots.

And it becomes even more risky when you factor in that ESPN also needs to keep MBB content. Losing the ACC would be a big hit in viewership once football is done.

Yeah, there is some content loss risk involved in that scenario which makes a settlement now more probable with the GOR expiration moved from 2036 to 2030. But given that other networks bidding on leftover ACC content have no access to CFP rights through 2031 and no existing top brands, the competition for ESPN to retain FB and BB rights for those ACC leftovers will not be overwhelming and they would likely retain it on the cheap.

I would rank the possible outcomes as follows in terms of probability:
1) Settlement with GOR expiration moved from 2036 to 2030
2) ESPN doesn't pick up 2027 option
3) ESPN picks up 2027 option and rides out the current contract through 2036 and lawyers from 3 sides (FSU/Clemson; Rest of ACC; ESPN) make even more money in court proceedings.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

the "deserving" B12 teams have already been taken.

We have a few years for ISU you change that notion and force our way into one of those other leagues by winning and getting into the playoffs repeatedly over the next 5 to 7 years.

 

[2speedy1]

If they schedule with the SEC that’s another P4 game, the only difference is it’s not against the Big12. I would much rather have the Big12 matchup than the SEC every year.

Wait, are they saying they are adding a P4 game? Or replacing their current P4 game? I guess outside the recent supercon plans I have not seen anywhere that the P2 will add additional P4 games, and/or removing a FCS/G5 game.

As far as I read the idea is the B1G and SEC would replace their current 1 P4 non con with a game between only those 3 conferences.

Ie the SEC will still only play 8 conference game and 1 P4 games, (some do play 2 P4 noncons some years) but only against B1G, while the B1G will play 9 conference games, and 1 P4 noncon against the SEC. Making games like the CyHawk obsolete.

The SEC wont even add a 9th conference game let alone add another P4 game.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Wait, are they saying they are adding a P4 game? Or replacing their current P4 game? I guess outside the recent supercon plans I have not seen anywhere that the P2 will add additional P4 games, and/or removing a FCS/G5 game.

As far as I read the idea is the B1G and SEC would replace their current 1 P4 non con with a game between only those 3 conferences.

Ie the SEC will still only play 8 conference game and 1 P4 games, (some do play 2 P4 noncons some years) but only against B1G, while the B1G will play 9 conference games, and 1 P4 noncon against the SEC. Making games like the CyHawk obsolete.

The SEC wont even add a 9th conference game let alone add another P4 game.

There was a good article in the Athletic when all of this was happening, and there were three big 10 teams that had stated they wanted to keep one specific out of conference game intact each season. EIU was not one of the teams they mentioned.

I would guess since the networks and the B10 have now destroyed the P12, we will be in a truce period until the end of the decade and then both the SEC and B10 will turn their sites on destroying the ACC.

 

[RustShack]

Wait, are they saying they are adding a P4 game? Or replacing their current P4 game? I guess outside the recent supercon plans I have not seen anywhere that the P2 will add additional P4 games, and/or removing a FCS/G5 game.

As far as I read the idea is the B1G and SEC would replace their current 1 P4 non con with a game between only those 3 conferences.

Ie the SEC will still only play 8 conference game and 1 P4 games, (some do play 2 P4 noncons some years) but only against B1G, while the B1G will play 9 conference games, and 1 P4 noncon against the SEC. Making games like the CyHawk obsolete.

The SEC wont even add a 9th conference game let alone add another P4 game.

It’s just the B1G and SEC playing a non con game against each other.

 

[cyfanatic]

We have a few years for ISU you change that notion and force our way into one of those other leagues by winning and getting into the playoffs repeatedly over the next 5 to 7 years.

I don't think "deserving" has much to do with performance on the field...sadly it is all about driving the media markets...and if the powers that be determine Iowa is a desired piece of the TV pie...they already have it.

 

[2speedy1]

It’s just the B1G and SEC playing a non con game against each other.

Yes, and they arent replacing one of their cupcakes with that game, they are replacing their current P4 game with it. So its not an additional P4 game instead of a G5/FCS as was mentioned.

No way is the SEC going to do something to get rid of a cupcake, they wont even add a 9th conference game.

 

[RustShack]

Yes, and they arent replacing one of their cupcakes with that game, they are replacing their current P4 game with it. So its not an additional P4 game instead of a G5/FCS as was mentioned.

No way is the SEC going to do something to get rid of a cupcake, they wont even add a 9th conference game.

Well they wanted to add one, but ESPN told them they wouldn’t up their payment for it.

 

[MountainManHawk]

There was a good article in the Athletic when all of this was happening, and there were three big 10 teams that had stated they wanted to keep one specific out of conference game intact each season. EIU was not one of the teams they mentioned.

I would guess since the networks and the B10 have now destroyed the P12, we will be in a truce period until the end of the decade and then both the SEC and B10 will turn their sites on destroying the ACC.

I’ve read before that the contract for the Iowa-ISU series already has language in it that allows the series to be cancelled if either team has a material change in their conference scheduling obligations, which I’m assuming this would trigger if it happens.

I’m guessing Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina don’t have that language in their contracts so they would have to play out the remaining games that are already scheduled. And who knows, even if they did add this additional game those 3 schools may want to keep playing their in-state rival anyway.

In Iowa’s case I would imagine there would be some political pressure to keep the series but I would have said the same thing about Oklahoma and look how that played out.