RamblinRed
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Messages
- 134
- Reaction score
- 68
First, I don't see any more expansion of the Big 2 in the short term - both have had public statements by AD's basically saying they don't really plan on expanding anymore right now.
Keep in mind for them to expand it has to be a program that is additive to their contract, there are frankly very few programs left that would be additive.
Second, B10 is the SEC's equal from a financial standpoint, if not on the field. Their large universities with huge alumni bases give them large audiences to watch their games. That is more important to the media entities that provide the money than who wins and loses on the field.
This past season the Top 2 most watched programs in terms of average audience size were Ohio State and Michigan (AL was #3). Penn St was #4. The rest of the top 12 were UGA. OK, Auburn, Mich St, Notre Dame, Oregon, WI, and Neb.
So that is 6 B10 teams, 3 SEC, 1 independent, 1 B12, and 1 PAC12. The highest rated ACC team was Clemson at #19.
https://medium.com/run-it-back-with...ms-were-the-most-watched-in-2021-49ef4f315858
If you want to take a longer view (5 yr avg 2015-2019) it is a little different but alot of the same teams Ohio St, Al, Mich, ND, LSU, Auburn, UGa, OK, Clemson, Penn St, FL and WI.
https://medium.com/run-it-back-with...ams-bring-in-the-most-tv-viewers-efc03c689e50
I was thinking 2 weeks ago the Big 2 would break away and form their own division, i'm alot less confident in that now as that would not fit into what the content providers would want. It would be counterproductive for Fox and especially ESPN to have only 2 conferences with 32-40 teams total playing for a championship. The NC game between UGA and AL last year had only 22MM viewers, the second lowest total in the history of the CFP (behind only the 2020 COVID year). The more regionalized games tend to draw fewer eyeballs in the playoffs. Also, ESPN has no reason to try to undermine the ACC since it has 100% of its broadcast rights and it gives ESPN a ton of programming.
Dan Radakovich, the current Miami AD former Clemson and GT AD, was on the radio yesterday. He said no school is leaving the ACC anytime soon. That the schools and conference are focused on increasing revenue.
He also mentioned that the GoR puts the ACC in a position of strength.
He said that he has looked at the GoR a couple of times and he relies on the lawyers but that no one has walked through his door or called him with a way out of the GoR. He also mentioned that TX and OK looked at the B12 GoR for over a year and have not tried to get out of it early and that might mean something.
The fans of alot of ACC schools have been discussing whether the GoR is an anchor or a life vest. For now it appears it is the latter as it keeps the schools on the same page and looking at how to make the ACC the strongest it can be, rather than having schools trying to figure out how to leave.
Keep in mind for them to expand it has to be a program that is additive to their contract, there are frankly very few programs left that would be additive.
Second, B10 is the SEC's equal from a financial standpoint, if not on the field. Their large universities with huge alumni bases give them large audiences to watch their games. That is more important to the media entities that provide the money than who wins and loses on the field.
This past season the Top 2 most watched programs in terms of average audience size were Ohio State and Michigan (AL was #3). Penn St was #4. The rest of the top 12 were UGA. OK, Auburn, Mich St, Notre Dame, Oregon, WI, and Neb.
So that is 6 B10 teams, 3 SEC, 1 independent, 1 B12, and 1 PAC12. The highest rated ACC team was Clemson at #19.
https://medium.com/run-it-back-with...ms-were-the-most-watched-in-2021-49ef4f315858
If you want to take a longer view (5 yr avg 2015-2019) it is a little different but alot of the same teams Ohio St, Al, Mich, ND, LSU, Auburn, UGa, OK, Clemson, Penn St, FL and WI.
https://medium.com/run-it-back-with...ams-bring-in-the-most-tv-viewers-efc03c689e50
I was thinking 2 weeks ago the Big 2 would break away and form their own division, i'm alot less confident in that now as that would not fit into what the content providers would want. It would be counterproductive for Fox and especially ESPN to have only 2 conferences with 32-40 teams total playing for a championship. The NC game between UGA and AL last year had only 22MM viewers, the second lowest total in the history of the CFP (behind only the 2020 COVID year). The more regionalized games tend to draw fewer eyeballs in the playoffs. Also, ESPN has no reason to try to undermine the ACC since it has 100% of its broadcast rights and it gives ESPN a ton of programming.
Dan Radakovich, the current Miami AD former Clemson and GT AD, was on the radio yesterday. He said no school is leaving the ACC anytime soon. That the schools and conference are focused on increasing revenue.
He also mentioned that the GoR puts the ACC in a position of strength.
He said that he has looked at the GoR a couple of times and he relies on the lawyers but that no one has walked through his door or called him with a way out of the GoR. He also mentioned that TX and OK looked at the B12 GoR for over a year and have not tried to get out of it early and that might mean something.
The fans of alot of ACC schools have been discussing whether the GoR is an anchor or a life vest. For now it appears it is the latter as it keeps the schools on the same page and looking at how to make the ACC the strongest it can be, rather than having schools trying to figure out how to leave.