maybe this vt thing is a blessing in disguise.
if enough of these mid-tier P4s like VT, Pitt, BC, Syracuse, Wake, Louisiville, NC State, start getting left behind because they simply cannot compete in the new spending arms race, perhaps we have a chance to revive the big east glory days and get a great "PG" conference birthed to fill in this middle ground. between true G5 and top P3 (or honestly P2) -- finding a way to partner with Big 12 and become the true second tier beneath B1G and SEC... so we're at least not at the low end of FBS with the "G" schools.
the pessimisitc jetsky in me feels this is the best we can hope for, the way things are shaking out in CFB world.
EDIT - i think i just re-stated the "Big East/ACC merger" argument again, in a different way. lol my bad