First, FSU throws the public hissy fit in the summer of 2023, absolving ESPN/Fox of any culpability. Lawsuit ensues. Second, CFP announces intention to expand from 12 to 14 teams before its 12 team model even launches. Third, all of a sudden, this ESPN lookin to continue to the ACC contract in 2027 becomes a know quantity. When all the ACC schools thought they were locked together until 2036, maybe that is no longer the case. And ESPN will make this decision on Feb 2025, just a year away! Fourth, the 14-team CFP contract is finalized and revenue distribution is made extremely public. Percentages, dollars, everything. The ACC and Big XII behind P2, but still making a pretty penny and the ACC is even a bit ahead of the Big XII, very publicly because it has had more CFP success in the past. (Virtually all of it by FSU and Clemson) Fifth, oh boy, Clemson sues the ACC, months after FSU, and also after items two and three are public. This further absolves ESPN/Fox of any legal action by the domino effect created by FSU and new information putting a few more cracks in the GOR. So….what happens next? Here is my guess. First, FSU and Clemson are going to announce this summer their intention to leave the ACC. The departure date will probably in the summer of 2026. This will kick off a big legal battle over exit fees and FSU and Clemson’s lawyers can drag this out for two years. Which leads to…. Second…ESPN is going to have their contract look in next February and announce a reduction in the ACC’s contract value in 2027. The reasoning will be the massive loss of TV viewership Expected from the loss of the top two viewed football programs in the league. We’ve all seen the data and know it. Third, this will allow FSU and Clemson’s lawyers to argue their way out of a significant portion of the GOR penalty, due to ESPN’s factual, public and very unequal appraisal of the media value of the ACC member schools. A part of me thinks it might stop here. But the amount of reduction in the ACC media rights in 2027 with what happens with UNC. Which could start a waterfall. If the ACC gets the Big XII treatment, meaning make more money after losing your best two programs, maybe it hangs together. Also, do the SEC and B1G shut it down at 18 teams each? If there are no more P2 spots, the ACC likely survives. Lots of questions will need answering after FSU and Clemson announce their exit from the ACC. (Which has to be a foregone conclusion) ** Edited by hokieZ71 at 3/24/2024, 10:57:11 PM