I wouldn't say Virginia has a large fan base. They're in a large, important market. And they have other important credentials.
They stink in football. That's all that matters! apparently only when it applies to UConn
I wouldn't say Virginia has a large fan base. They're in a large, important market. And they have other important credentials.
I agree on SEC getting their choice.sec prob has their pick of the litter and theyd certainly take any of FSU, Miami, Clemson, or UNC before they invited UVA.
If it works out like that then we drew a full house on the river lol but Assuming FSU and Miami leave then the ACC would prefer USF to UConn in that scenario so they maintain a Florida presence.I think the question is whether anyone after these four leave. And if that holds, is that enough to lure WVU, USF, and Cincy from Big 12 along with UConn. Still a decent league if that holds. Certainly a rival to Big 12.
That’s the thing: too many people get caught up in football itself to see that conference realignment isn’t set off by one thing for every school. Just like how Rutgers and Texas got invites for two completely different reasons.Virginia, coveted by the Big Ten and SEC, is picked 14th in the ACC preseason poll
It’s all about football! except when it isn’t
I think this is more likely (ordered by valuation):Regardless, I think the question is whether anyone after these four leave. And if that holds, is that enough to lure WVU, USF, and Cincy from Big 12 along with UConn. Still a decent league if that holds. Certainly a rival to Big 12
The Big 10 wouldn’t be interested in those schools except for UVa. GT maybe if they get a few good football seasons together.I think this is more likely (ordered by valuation):
1. F$U- sec
2. Clemson- sec
3. Miami- sec
4. UNC- sec
5. VT- big12
6. NC St- big12
7. Lville- big12
8. GT- Big10
9. Cuse- Big10
10. Duke- Big10
11. Pitt- big12
12. UVA- Big10
13. Stanford- PAC
14. SMU- PAC
15. BC- American (haha)
16. Cal- PAC
17. Wake- American
Theyd take Duke for the bball brand alone but also Better academics and football than UVA, which has the worst football program of all 4.The Big 10 wouldn’t be interested in those schools except for UVa. GT maybe if they get a few good football seasons together.
Sure but the big12 tv deal expires in 2031 when the ACC exit fee hits its lowest point before the GOR expires in 2036 and that timing will enable them to poach from the ACC just like they did with the PAC. So I don’t get why people think some teams might want to leave the big12 for a watered down ACC at best, when they’ll be locked into a new long term deal with high exit feesSo many factors in play including; i) where the B12 lands on their next deal, ii) where the B12 is really at on exit fees, iii) how the P4 CFP dance shakes out over the next 4-6 years iii) what do the media companies really want to pay for-what do they value iv) what is the state of media - still hungry? v) what does ND decide and vi) politics.
Geography and/or cultural fit, in the case of Cincy, UCF, and WVU. The opportunity to renew some old rivalries might be a factor too. But would geography and reestablishing old rivalries outweigh ($$$) and other considerations?Sure but the big12 tv deal expires in 2031 when the ACC exit fee hits its lowest point before the GOR expires in 2036 and that timing will enable them to poach from the ACC just like they did with the PAC. So I don’t get why people think some teams might want to leave the big12 for a watered down ACC at best, when they’ll be locked into a new long term deal with high exit fees
Sure but the big12 tv deal expires in 2031 when the ACC exit fee hits its lowest point before the GOR expires in 2036 and that timing will enable them to poach from the ACC just like they did with the PAC. So I don’t get why people think some teams might want to leave the big12 for a watered down ACC at best, when they’ll be locked into a new long term deal with high exit fees
Yeah, it kind of bothered me at the time that we were enthusiastic about joining and didn't end up getting an offer while they begrudgingly accepted theirs.They didn't "Poach" the PAC. The PAC blew up into smithereens. The Big 12 was the best available lifeboat. Utah grudingly joined. The Four corners Presidents were as cynical as they could be about it.
I agree on SEC getting their choice.
The issue with UNC and UVA is that they aren’t football schools in the SEC mold.
If you look at who SEC has added, they’ve been very selective in going after football schools in a geographic region.
I get Clemson and FSU are redundant to Florida and USC, but those are the biggest football brands in ACC and would add the most football $’s.
UNC and UVA fit the BIG model. State flagships, big brands, solid academics.
Regardless, I think the question is whether anyone after these four leave. And if that holds, is that enough to lure WVU, USF, and Cincy from Big 12 along with UConn. Still a decent league if that holds. Certainly a rival to Big 12.
The SEC has gone after a mixture of programs. Missouri is not there because of football for instance. UNC and Virginia are the only flagship Southern universities not in the SEC, and UNC at least have already established natural rivalries with Kentucky, South Carolina, and (to a lesser extent) Tennessee.I agree on SEC getting their choice.
The issue with UNC and UVA is that they aren’t football schools in the SEC mold.
If you look at who SEC has added, they’ve been very selective in going after football schools in a geographic region.
Fair points. The schools could fit in either conference. I just think Big is a better fit, especially UVA.The SEC has gone after a mixture of programs. Missouri is not there because of football for instance. UNC and Virginia are the only flagship Southern universities not in the SEC, and UNC at least have already established natural rivalries with Kentucky, South Carolina, and (to a lesser extent) Tennessee.
I wouldn’t say that is really true about Missouri. At the time they left the B12 for the SEC they were coming off a very successful stretch. They had a 12-2, 10-4 10-3 records pretty regular top 25 finishes including a #4, and then went 12-2 their 2nd year in the SEC and 11-3 Won the SEC East. Lots of people at the time thought they were the next big deal. I think even the SEC thought they were a real program. They haven’t lived up to the hype but neither have lots of teams. (Hi Nebraska!).The SEC has gone after a mixture of programs. Missouri is not there because of football for instance. UNC and Virginia are the only flagship Southern universities not in the SEC, and UNC at least have already established natural rivalries with Kentucky, South Carolina, and (to a lesser extent) Tennessee.
Lots of conferences, maybe most, are moving games to streaming of one sort or another. There are a ton of “who cares” games every year especially when leagues get too big. Only the team’s fans and the people who bet on those games even care. Especially if they are up against some bigger games. Their version of Butler-Seton Hall (ASU-Colarado perhaps) is espn+ bound.Is the Big 12 still on ESPN+? Seems like their conference is never on mainstream TV.
How can the same people that think the big12 was right to turn down Memphis + $200mill, also think the BIG10 is going to welcome Virginia with open arms ?? The P3 are only going to add the schools that the networks say they’ll pay extra for And the networks don’t care that Virginia is a public flagship U. If That label were inherently valuable the BIG would have added Cal. No one cares about Virginia football.Fair points. The schools could fit in either conference. I just think Big is a better fit, especially UVA.
Whack-a-Mole:Is the Big 12 still on ESPN+? Seems like their conference is never on mainstream TV.