No doubt, UConn would be the most beneficial add to the ACC. They may have been the most beneficial add the last two rounds as well, but it didn't happen. But I think you are probably right, FSU used its leverage and UNC/UVa/Duke will get their way the next time. None of the possible candidates are peer schools to UNC/UVa except UConn. It would be hard to see them going with anyone else.
My point exactly. There is no other choice. Even the most hardcore FSU or Clemson fan has to see what UConn can bring, in terms of eyeballs, academics, and, Olympic and women's sports, which are a big deal to us.
What do you think of the relaxation of championship rules/divisional structure Swofford is pushing for? Opening up a 15-school football league? Do you think that will bring about an invitation to UConn?
I really like the idea. He is simply looking for a way to have all 14 teams play each other on a much more regular basis. The idea floated by Syracuse AD Gross makes a lot of sense to me. Each team would have three permanent opponents. Using UNC as the example, ours would be UVA, NCSU, and, Duke. Then, we would play five of the remaining 10 ACC teams one season, and, the other five the next. So, we'd play everybody home-and-home every four years. Thats a win-win for everybody. It creates more games between teams that would generate TV viewers, and, more ticket money for the schools themselves. Games like FSU-GT, Clemson-VPI, etc, would do that very thing.
It also would mean that the northern ACC teams have more regular appearances vs the Southern schools currently outside of their divisions, which would help their recruiting. Thats a big thing schools like Cuse and BC wanted addressed. That for sure helps them out.
As for ND, I do not think that their games are included in that particular scheduling layout. It seems like they're still treated as an OOC game. Which is fine by me, since they're not all-in for football, anyway.
With FSU's and CU's fears of the ACC being left out of the future 4-team playoff allayed, I think both would be much more receptive to UConn now. And, if they are convinced, those who sided with them would be, too. I think Swofford will talk to them about that. I really do. I am probably very annoying with my positivity on this, but, the plusses outweigh the minuses, and, its not close. There should be no more objections about UConn. Not even from BC.
Ideally, if the ACC goes to 16 teams, the league will go to a 9-game conference schedule, and, four 4-team pods. Which means that you could still play everybody else in the league outside of your pod home-and-home every four years by playing those teams in your pod, and, two teams from each of the other three. That would be a hugely fun time.
