Yeah, my opinions aren't driven by what I think will best position Iowa to thrive in a P2 world of college football. I don't think we will. And there are plenty of doomsday scenarios that would leave Iowa completely on the outside looking in, that could be realistic. I just think the networks and the SEC/B1G hold pretty much all the power, and I don't see a Big 12/ACC/PAC/MW alliance forcing them to give up all the power and most of the money to split things up equally. Just makes no sense.
The grass roots of a B12/ACC alliance are being formed by the Rudy/Smash & CST initiatives given B12 and ACC membership on those initiatives. While immediate PE cash infusion is necessary for B12/ACC schools in order to adequately compete with SEC/B10 in a House Settlement environment, the bigger issue that Rudy/CST are trying to address is the obvious attempt by the SEC/B10 to financially relegate and destroy the B12/ACC (JP's quote in the Athletic was they are attempting to swallow up the B12 and ACC).
For now, Presidents from the B12 and ACC are actively communicating with SEC/B10 Presidents on what Sankey/Petitti are trying to pull and they making progress given that Presidents from the SEC and B10 each conference signed a document acknowledging the threat of the Sankey/Petitti initiatives but they removed those signatures, presumably under threats from Sankey/Petitti. And it's no secret that ESPN and Fox have also been utilizing threats to prevent SEC/B10 Presidents/ADs from meeting with the Rudy and CST folks.
There is enough PR going on now from both sides (the fact that SEC/B10 engaged collusion lawyers at their recent meetings was laughable) that this ends up with probable Fed intervention in the next couple of years. As JP recently pointed out, ORSt and Wazzu destruction wasn't enough to move the intervention needle, destruction of 20-30 more ADs should move it for some type of intervention or equitable settlement prior to it.
If ESPN doesn't pick up the 2027 ACC option by the FEB 2025 notification deadline, the resulting chaos will probably trigger intervention and/or settlement sooner than later. If ESPN does pick the option, looking at 2030 to get something figured out before most of the current TV contracts expire.