(01-11-2020 04:13 AM)ColumbusCard Wrote:  still dont see how a deal that nets teams $3-$4 million a year less than their perceived closest competitor erases all talk of potential MWC defection to the AAC. Especially considering requisite renegotiating of the AAC's contract such a defection would cause.

There is zero chance ESPN would pay the AAC more per-school than it does now if it were to add some MW teams. At best, the pay rate would stay the same.

As for the MW deal, if MW schools were going to seek defection, they would have done so months ago when the AAC announced its deal, because there was never any chance the MW was going to sign for $7m per school. Most projections were at about $2.5m per school.

Relative to expectations, the MW did a better job with their new deal than the AAC did with theirs. Many, perhaps most, thought the AAC would get in the $8m to $10m range. I thought $8m and I was considered somewhat of a low-baller. Nobody thought the MW would get $4m per school. UConn left the AAC in part because they were underwhelmed by the new deal. Nobody is leaving the MW because they are underwhelmed by their new deal.