The Super Bowl had more fans than the Big East Tournament? You don’t say.
If I'm Cincy or WVU, I wouldn't leave the Big12 for a depleted ACC.
By all accounts WVU has not been happy in the Big XII. I think if they could get Cinci to move with them and be reunited with Pitt and Louisville, they would.
That could be, but I think Louisville and Pitt would rather go to the Big12 than stay in a depleted ACC and if/when they could depart, that would cement Cinci and WVU staying in the Big12. The linchpin is if/how the ACC falls apart. Definitely lots of scenarios - all depends on if/how the magnificent 7 are able to depart and what sort of exit fee/GOR settlements come into ACC cofers.... Do we have a scenario similar to the PAC implosion, or don't we? Time will tell.
That depends on how aggressive the ACC
I was just pointing out that college sports are not that important in NYC. People have many interests - arts, fashion, theatre, literature, and restaurants, etc. I lived in NYC for over 10 years and never recall anyone talking about BET.
I think you could also add WSU and OSU along with San Diego State for Western pod
I think you're over valuing the ACC leftovers and under valuing the Big12. It's about football eyeballs and the Big12 is greater than an ACC without FSU and Clemson. It's not just about markets - it's about actual eyeballs (see exhibit 1: BC, exhibit 2: Wake Forest, etc.). If ESPN was so jazzed about the ACC, they'd have already exercised their option to extend. They haven't. And that's WITH FSU and Clemson on board. Think of the calculus WITHOUT those two.
Don’t underestimate this reality. It isn’t the conferences making these decisions. It all comes down to the networks offering $$. If ESPN is willing to pay, BIG 12 teams will jump. Same goes with FOX…
But not NBA and NHL which are the main competitors in March at sports bars across the northeast. Metro NYC has five of those teams. I still hope KC could lure the Kings back.
I think there are too many moving parts at the moment to make any additions. Reality is, anything without FSU and Clemson moving forward is a hit. But this isn’t as much of a hit like losing Texas or OU.
It's a "depleted" Big12, too.
The rest of the ACC is still just as strong as the Big XII, but with a better region, better history (the west cost additions not withstanding) and better brand names. If it is just FSU and Clemson, the ACC >>> Big XII. If they lose UNC and Miami, then it shifts towards the Big XII. But the smart move for both is to trade Stanford and Cal for WVU and Cincinnati. Both conferences and all four schools would be better off.
For a while at least, any leftover schools are going to be sitting on a windfall of exit fees and GOR buyouts. That will probably create an economic incentive to stay in the ACC in the near term.
WVU hasn't liked being in the big 12 because they were out on an island. That changed when Cincy was added. It would change even more with the addition of Pitt and Louisville.
Or were they just not invited?
If the ACC implodes and the left behinds media contract goes down, it kind of doesn't make sense to have the expense of traveling to California for the ACC schools.
