While I'm okay with a move to the SEC if they expand

Jul 9, 2022, 5:22 PM

past 16, if them and the B1G decide to stand pat then I can see an option for the ACC that would help bridge the financial gap for us and the other football powers. It might not close it, but it would likely get us in the 75-80 % range at minimum.

Start by adding West Virginia, Cincinnati, UCF, Memphis, Navy, and Army (I know I know - stop laughing) Move to a 9-game league schedule, and divide us up as follows to start:

Clemson
FSU
Miami
Va Tech
West Virginia
UNC
NC State
Louisville
Pitt
Cincinnati

Ga Tech
Duke
Wake
UVA
BC
Syracuse
UCF
Memphis
Navy
Army

The upper division would play 6 games among its members, and 3 versus the other division, with the 3rd game being a home game for the upper division team. Historic rivalries and such would play a major role in scheduling, both within divisions and cross.

The ACC has strangled itself, willingly, over the years by sticking to an awkward division structure that sidelined far too many compelling matchups during the regular season, which is a leading cause as to why our overall viewership numbers and media revenue suffer. Ditching divisions entirely is certainly an improvement, but it only gets us halfway there. This approach remedies that.

The programs at the top invest heavily in football, and have the stadiums, fans, and infrastructure in place to maximize value in the sport unlike the others. This has also been a major strike against the ACC from a football standpoint - just too much dead weight diluting the whole mechanism.

Set schedules for two-year increments, and after two years look at a promotion/relegation from one division to the other if a program is lighting it up below and a top program isn't hanging in there and delivering up top.

By competing in the upper division, those programs are rewarded financially with a bigger share of league revenue, which makes the process more equitable. By having the 5th league home game each season, OOC opportunities are protected, and for media purposes the better venues will be hosting more content - another win.

For the post-season, if leagues ultimately ditch CCG's for expanded playoffs, the upper division champ would be our auto-qualifier, with all others eligible from there for at-larges or a secured second team or what have you. If we stick with CCG's, pit the upper and lower division champs against each other in a David vs Goliath style game.

IF the SEC and B1G are done and plan to stay as they are, this is a path forward that I believe would keep us, and other league teams, in the hunt, and secure our own destiny according to our choices, not others.

Downtime and Silly Season is fun. The whole conference discussion has been a nice distraction this summer.

Go Tigers!

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LOL. That's kind of the point in a way. Most of that is the baggage that has been holding the league back on the football side, and an upgrade for others. Probably have to swap USF for Memphis here as Memphis would likely be better off with their Big XII deal. UCF could buy in with assurances of moving up being realistic. Otherwise that's kind of what they've all earned.

The approach here is properly leveraging our football leaders to maximize value for themselves and the rest of the pack. We've done a terrible job of that since expanding into divisions. It was short-sighted to try and engineer a big end-of-the-season championship game instead of focusing more on the 56 games leading up to it. We were way too slow to respond to our scheduling issues, and waning enthusiasm, by adjusting our schedules to open things up as is going into effect next season. It's a big part of why we're here now.

The lower division teams would still have 3 games each year versus the top squad, maintaining home/aways with rivals and filling in for the Troys and UConns on our schedules with that 5th league home game. That was kind of the thought process behind adding some extra programs into the mix - go ahead and fill in some scheduling opportunities on that end. If one of them were to run the table, it would include 2 road game wins versus the top division and one at home. It wouldn't be much different than what our schedule has looked like in some of these years TBH.

If the SEC expands again and we are invited, and all is on the level, that's clearly the way to go. If they or the B1G stand pat, I believe this or something very close to this could be our ticket to staying fully in the mix. If anything, modeling this out and establishing a value to it could help strengthen our position with other leagues and interests.

While I'm okay with a move to the SEC if they expand

It's real simple to me. We will stay in the ACC

Re: It's real simple to me. We will stay in the ACC

As recently as 2016, many considered the ACC the strongest

Re: While I'm okay with a move to the SEC if they expand

Re: While I'm okay with a move to the SEC if they expand

What incentive do Cincy, UCF & WVA have to leave the Big 12

The ACC still has breadwinners in its midst.

Re: The ACC still has breadwinners in its midst.

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