(08-20-2021 11:23 AM)Lou_C Wrote:  I think this is the play here for the ACC, and the only play really. Of course, this is on the assumption that the ACC is operating at peak business-savvy, Michael Corleone-level strategy. Which certainly hasn't been the case, but who knows with new leadership. The "Alliance" is certainly a poke in the eye of ESPN, which the ACC has never shown any inclination to do in the past, so I don't know.

The Alliance can't do a whole lot of anything except mess with the playoff. First, they can mess with access, how many spots and how they are distributed. And two, and this is the big one, they can push for the playoff to run it's ESPN contract and go to open market bid.

Make no mistake, ESPN does NOT want the latter. The ACC has has zero leverage over ESPN, and hasn't for many years...but all of a sudden it's just found some.

And once you're talking about playoff structure and access, it now has leverage over another entity, which is Notre Dame.

Is it possible that the ACC can leverage holding the playoff hostage enough to force ESPN (and maybe ND) to bring the ACC back into the fold and peel them off the Alliance? Would ESPN be willing to sweeten the deal enough to get them back on their side?

It's a long shot, but it bears watching. It at least looks like the ACC might be doing the clever thing here for once.

What if the B1G had NO desire to limit playoff spots by conference or prevent playoff change to 12?


What if the B1G's only interest was something to do with the Rose Bowl and saving that.....and maybe pushing back on ESPN.



What does the ACC get out of this alliance then? Other than maybe annoying our TV "partner" (horrible partner).


I don't see much the ACC gets out of this alliance. I'm glad we are trying, but like you, I think it is a hail mary but I don't see the advantage.


Again, is revenue changed in a MAJOR way? No.

(08-20-2021 11:26 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(08-20-2021 11:23 AM)Lou_C Wrote:  I think this is the play here for the ACC, and the only play really. Of course, this is on the assumption that the ACC is operating at peak business-savvy, Michael Corleone-level strategy. Which certainly hasn't been the case, but who knows with new leadership. The "Alliance" is certainly a poke in the eye of ESPN, which the ACC has never shown any inclination to do in the past, so I don't know.

The Alliance can't do a whole lot of anything except mess with the playoff. First, they can mess with access, how many spots and how they are distributed. And two, and this is the big one, they can push for the playoff to run it's ESPN contract and go to open market bid.

Make no mistake, ESPN does NOT want the latter. The ACC has has zero leverage over ESPN, and hasn't for many years...but all of a sudden it's just found some.

And once you're talking about playoff structure and access, it now has leverage over another entity, which is Notre Dame.

Is it possible that the ACC can leverage holding the playoff hostage enough to force ESPN (and maybe ND) to bring the ACC back into the fold and peel them off the Alliance? Would ESPN be willing to sweeten the deal enough to get them back on their side?

It's a long shot, but it bears watching. It at least looks like the ACC might be doing the clever thing here for once.

... how does a "new" four team playoff sound to you with AQs for SEC, B1G, Pac12, and ACC?

Or 6 teams ... same AQs, one guaranteed to a G5, one at large.

ESPN trial balloon?
Mack Brown has stated several times that the G5 should have their own playoff (and versions of their own post season awards, i.e. Heisman).
He is also in favor of an 8 team playoff. It seems as if ESPN understands they will never get 12 teams but they are trying to salvage an expanded playoff (Mack did call for, get this, all 5 P conference champions......he's still counting the Big 12 as a P conference).

I don’t see a full merger but I’d believe the sec would jump to 24 with

UVA, V tech, UNC, DUke, NC state, Clemson, G Tech and FSU

than create 3 divisions, of 8...SEC east, central and west

ESPN than could add to the remaining 7 acc schools and create an ND friendly conference. Add wVU, Cincinnati, And UCF to get to 10. Or they could use the same concept as the 24 team sec and create 3 divisions oacross the country taking the best of the ACC, AAC, big 12 and MWC. I think the best move for the current ACC setup is add WVU and BYU as a football only assuming ND won’t join and that is a good assumption