DirkTheDeac
Lord of the Board
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
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Football is driving things, but what you're really saying is money. Conference movement is not about assembling the best football teams in one place -- that's why the SEC isn't really interested in the southern five ACC schools, because those schools don't bring any new markets, which is what's coveted first and foremost. Conference realignment is about grouping markets for the highest revenues per school. The ACC might be fifth on the football playing field, but they are very competitive on those terms. And with the conference's recent moves, they've effectively fire-walled the Atlantic seaboard quite nicely. But I said that in my prior two posts, so I won't repeat it here.
The ACC outlasted the Big East not because it was faster -- after all, Big East schools were the ones ditching that conference for the ACC -- but because it had a larger, more stable football footprint. Which, again, translates to markets, which, again, translates to money. The ACC is set up very well to protect its turf now. If you're looking for the next conference to get cannibalized, it's still going to be the Big 12. They have what the poaching threats want (and can likely get) -- new markets along the spine of the country. Kansas (you think this isn't next on the Big 10 wish list?). Oklahoma (Pac 12, the last piece for the Big 10, hell even the SEC might come calling). Texas (Pac 12 already almost had them once, and the SEC would say yes in heartbeat).
The ACC protects its assets by being financially competitive and geographically isolated (and contiguous). There's going to be a power conference on the East Coast -- there are too many good/schools markets for that not to be the case. The stable NC/VA core makes everything work, and it's not going anywhere. Relax.
Very well put.