deacdiggler
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I haven't read all of this so I assume Wake will be moving to the SEC to balance out Vandy in the other division
The one big card I think the ACC has left is if they can form a mega conference with the PAC-12 and get out of the current ESPN deal. Then they could try to work a deal with NBC to bring ND into the conference which could help preserve their rivalries with USC and Stanford. NBC, USA, and NBCSN could air three or four games a week each. Peacock could air even more.
The backup plan would be to cut a deal with CBS to replace their SEC deal but expand it to include games on the CW, one or two of their other networks, and Paramount+.
The ACC needs to do something big and do it now. Staying with ESPN as the SEC’s little brother is not going to do it.
I'm lobbying for a 16-team conference comprised of the Big XII leftovers, with the addition of BYU, Boise St, Memphis, Cinci, USF, UCF, SMU, and Houston.
Thank god we were good enough in basketball all those years ago that other schools who liked basketball joined with us to form a conference. Being a charter member of the ACC is probably the best thing to ever happen to WFU, despite the teeth gnashing of the moment.
The football landscape since the last big ACC expansion is so different. There's certainly a plausible alternate universe where FSU & Miami don't crater and remain perennial top 5/10 teams, Clemson still attains their current blueblood status (albeit less dominant), VT better capitalizes post-Vick, Nick Saban stays in the NFL, and the ACC is the best football conference in the country.
I'd really like to know more about why so many programs went downhill upon joining the ACC. The simple answer is probably losing legendary coaches, but plenty of programs have continued being good, or great, after a coach is replaced. FSU and Miami were on top of the world for a while, and have had huge falls. VT played for a national championship, and has been straight up average over the last decade.
Miami has played in the ACC championship game once and never won it. That is absolutely incredible, especially out of the Coastal division.
Nobody has noted the most important possible outcome of realignment:
Wes Miller to the ACC!
I'd really like to know more about why so many programs went downhill upon joining the ACC. The simple answer is probably losing legendary coaches, but plenty of programs have continued being good, or great, after a coach is replaced. FSU and Miami were on top of the world for a while, and have had huge falls. VT played for a national championship, and has been straight up average over the last decade.
Miami has played in the ACC championship game once and never won it. That is absolutely incredible, especially out of the Coastal division.
The coaching angle is correct. FSU post Bowden and Miami post (Schnellenberger, JJ, Ericksen, Cook, Butch) have lost their cache and ability recruiting the best football players. Alabama, LSU, Ga, Fl, OSU, and Clemson have poached them recruiting and out coached them consistently. FSU and Miami could rebound a bit with better coaches, but the recruiting damage is permanent. The expanded SEC "could" have even more appeal to recruits based on the "players in the NFL" credibility factor and media exposure. If you're a recruit would you rather play on a 3 loss SEC team on national TV or an NC State team that never gets a national TV game? If we don't get ND permanently we're done as a "power" conference.