They want rivalries with big brands they just don't give a **** about ones like the Apple Bowl or the Iowa-ISU game. They'd love a Clemson-South Carolina conference rivalry or Clemson-Georgia.
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- Thread starter SoapyCy
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Or ESPN doesn't want to get another cease and desist letter and is trying to avoid another leak like what happened with the SEC/Big 12.
I'm not saying this is true necessarily but they will be much more careful this time around.
I think the SEC and Clemson/FSU want this, they are just going to wait to see how it shakes out for OU/UT.
Which is too bad because some of the best rivalry games to watch are the ones that don't involve blue bloods. BYU-Utah, the Apple Cup as you mentioned, Oregon-Oregon State, ect.
To be clear, it's likely bullsh#t...but that statement could be true and a third party (ESPN) is doing the talking... That statement in itself doesn't mean much.
I've been told that Mizzou has, like, millions of incredible and passionate fans (with tens of thousands of teeth...).
I wonder how many schools would have to leave the ACC to make their GOR null? Would Miami, Clemson, FSU, leave? Yeah probably. Virgnia Tech? How does Notre Dame fit into the GOR? Would those 5 schools be enough to cancel the GOR?
Or maybe it is football merger of the SEC and ACC and they re-division everyone?
Or maybe it is football merger of the SEC and ACC and they re-division everyone?
God I heart that joke. Got a lot of mileage out of it at a reunion in Bella Vista, AR couple weeks ago...
Please tell me why all these rumors might not be an opportunity for the remaining 8 and Bowlsby to create our own version of a super conference? E.g., add Clemson, FSU, Cincinnati, UCF, Washington, Oregon, UCLA & USC (team that seem to be sniffing around for opportunities other than what they currently have) for two 8 team divisions as follows:
Eastern Division: WVA, Cincy, Clemson, FSU, UCF (or UNC), ISU, KS, KState (all FB schools)
Western Division: WA, OR, UCLA, USC, OSU, TCU, Tech, Baylor
Each team play the other 7 in their division every year, play 3 cross division opponents each year (rotating such yearly) and 2 non-conference games.
Or, could you go to two 9 team divisions as follows:
Eastern Division: WVA, Cincy, Clemson, FSU, North Carolina, VA Tech, ISU, KS, KState
Western Division: WA, OR, UCLA, USC, Utah, CO, OSU, TCU, Tech, Baylor
Each team play the other 8 in their division every year, play 2 cross division opponents each year (rotating such yearly) and 2 non-conference games.
Seems as though this would catch a lot of the large TV markets nationwide with some interesting matchups.
Yeah but I though the whole point was SEC cherry picking the best programs for their exclusive NFL Lite?
Really? I've never known their fans to be that crazy passionate.
Jay Bilas pitched an ACC/SEC merger in a commentary on ESPN.com last week. I think it's wishful thinking on his part, as he didn't explain how it would make financial sense. It made sense to him because of great natural rivalries - GA v GA Tech, FL State v Florida, Clemson v USC. There may be some fire to this report as I would think Bilas is pretty connected from an ACC & ESPN standpoint.
Florida State's outgoing President has already stated that they won't be left behind, and didn't seem overly concerned about the GOR. So I bet FSU and Clemson did approach the SEC either about a conference merger or just taking a few schools. What's the worst that can happen- the SEC says no.
IMO any moves by Clemson and FL State to join the SEC are also to see if they can enrich the ACC Network contract. If the Big12 dissolves, ESPN has an extra $200+M to throw the ACC's way.
It would get you to 30 plus teams and you need fodder. I just can't see ESPN not trying to get Miami, FSU, Clemson, and Notre Dame in there.
Bowlsby doesn't have the creativity nor mental processing power to pull of a move like that. His stand last week was the one shining moment of his entire life.
Oklahoma had about the same path if it would win a championship.
So based on this analogy, you're saying that FSU and Clemson are definitely talking to the SEC? Or are you saying that they're definitely talking to 3 conferences?
If the ACC loses clemson and (to a lesser extent) fsu, the ACC is dead, just like the big 12 is without OU and Texass. Those conferences could stick together and keep the names ACC and Big 12 but no one nationally would give two ***** about either conference, most importantly ESPN and/or FOX. A football conference that lacks blue bloods will bring half the money they currently bring in and will get zero media coverage. Sure, the "irate 8" can stick together and keep the big 12 going but it would be continually devalued on the national scale, the money won't be there for its members and it will slowly become irrelevant on the national scale. Hell no one gives a **** about the pac-12 and that conference has way bigger brands than anyone left in the big 12.
I hope I'm wrong, but I fear the worst for ISU here. Just don't know that ISU brings enough money to the table for any conference to jump at the opportunity to scoop us up.
I would just add that I fear the worst for college football. Whatever it is that ESPN is trying to do to CFB...if they succeed, it'll kill it.
Yeah, and if you remember, even Texas said, “We will not address rumors or speculation.” Obviously not a denial, but certainly not, "OK, you caught us, we're leaving."
