I seriously doubt they want that contract opened up right now. The ACC had no real flagship team this season and did not make the playoffs, so at the moment they are not must see TV.
I wonder if WVU is really revenue neutral for the ACC. 2020 population was only 1.79M. Maybe they add a rival for Pitt, but I would think they're in the lower half of ACC value. I'm sure ESPN would keep everyone whole, so in that sense they are neutral.
I think it still matters in that I don't think WVU garners a heck of a lot of interest outside their market except for ex-patriots. They would need poll relevance to get people to watch. So all we can count on is the people in their market.
The Big 12 is a dead man walking. How much more hurt can the ACC do that’ll make any difference?
If the ACC wanted to add a school for basketball, soccer, baseball it would be Uconn not WVU. But that's not gonna happen. The next thing that will happen is that a football only conference will form with all the big boys. The other sports will remain in their regional conferences. Sort of like Hockey East.
also 10 of the last 16 with 7 or fewer wins. Not quite Ivy League now is it. Looks like University of Illinois!
It would be great if that were the next thing to happen. If only the power mongers cared about the student athletes and the fans.
I'm not sure either of those statements are true. I do think culturally they fit better in the ACC. But the basketball is better in the Big 12, and financially it'll likely be close to a wash (assuming the ACC didn't get a renegotiation.)
You think so? WVU was a much bigger football name, state flagship. ACC already has Louisville which hasn't turned out great. I think Cincy would go to just because of location but it would eventually get sucked down the black hole like all the other additions.
WVU is one of the smallest growing states, with a poorer than average populace and no major markets. The closest thing they have to a decent market is Pittsburgh which is already clearly in the fold with Pitt. The entire state of WVA has a smaller population than metro Cincinnati. Their academics are also worse (if that actually matters.) Plus Cincy helps connect the pieces of the ACC between Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Louisville. Plus there's no close major airport which makes travel crappy and believe it or not, that's a factor.
WVU is still a better football program, which is what the ACC needs. What exactly does Boise have going for it, and yet that football program does well every year. I'd take Pitt vs WVU over Cincy vs L-ville. Besides, everyone knows Ohio is the buckeye state.
Strange timing calling WVU a better football program when Cincinnati is in the playoff and 152-61 since 2006 including 4 Big East championships and 3 AAC championships. WVU has 3 Big East championships and 0 Big 12 championships during that time with a 131-70 record during that time. They had a great run under RickRod but not much before or after.
You are equating the AAC with the Big 12 now. Cincinnati must be better than Texas too I suppose. I guess you are right if you exclude the '90s.
I just don't think if you ask 50 people on the street who has a better football program today, that more than a handful of people would say WVU is the better football program. You speak of the 90s, WVU went 65-49 in the 90s. Not exactly world beaters (Cincy was abysmal in the 90s to be fair.)
I would agree. Wvu football program has really sunk back into mediocrity, and likely may be hunting for a new coach sooner rather than later. Ad extended Brown's contract which looks like a very bad move, but Brown has shown little to think he can make a turnaround.
