Notre Dame has a contract (GOR) with the ACC for all sports & away 🏈 games
They aren’t as Independent as they claim to be. They went it alone on the playoff, but they can’t leave the ACC without the help of other ACC teams who are not exactly enamored with them right now.
Yep, this is more complicated than some Notre Dame people are making it out to be. Fasten your seat belts ACC, and as much as some (not all) Notre Dame people don’t want to admit it, that’s you too Notre Dame!
30 Replies
4y
months if not 3 days. They will either get out of the GOR legally or pay it off. They are smart enough to see the writing on the wall and will jump off this sinking ship soon - like real soon.
(In response to this post by Stech)
2
2hhoop3
4y
I don't care whether ND gets out or stays. I want to see them get exactly what their current status and performance on the field has earned them rather than trading off a legacy mostly built before JFK was President. Whether that be Big 10 money or independent status with standing and influence relative to their actual performance makes no difference to me.
I applaud the Irish, their fans and their administration. They have played the game to this point masterfully but, at some point their power and influence should be adjusted to reflect their actual standing/performance. Hopefully, the Big 10 or the SEC will not become the Big East/ACC part 3. I think this time will be different in that unlike the Big East and ACC, neither the B10 or SEC need ND no matter how much they might want them.
I hope the current goings on shed a light of transparency over all the agreements Swofford engineered from the GOR to the ACC Network to ND's partial membership. Hopefully that sorts out fiction and reality once and for all. People can then evaluate the actions and results with the benefit of all the information.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
You may get out of it but it won't be simply because you want to. At some
At some point the conferences/schools that are in danger of being left behind are going to start fighting harder. I don't know if this is that point or not but ND is no longer the golden child that every conference wants. Are they still valuable, obviously. But, this isn't 2003 and college football has been doing just fine without them in a conference.
Personally, I feel like most of the schools have resigned themselves to the coming professional model for college sports and those that will be included are going to rush to secure their spot sooner rather than later. What happens to the contracts is up to the judges that will try the cases. Eventually a Wake Forest or Boston College is going to refuse to cooperate and force a trial. When that happens Notre Dame's clout will be meaningless. Maybe they can just pay everyone off and we can all move on.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
Everything has a price. Any idea what the cost would be?
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
M
Mercury
4y
If they join the big 10 they have to give their rights away ., or do they want to hang with the sec hooligans. These 2 will play each other exclusively and for example big Ten will tell usc u dont have space for nd.
Nd could be forced to play a navy army schedule.
They can posture and any dealings with rhe acc can get real polarizing and frankly - u let the acc explode - all those slots in the p-2 locks up and sorry notre dame you are not part of their business plan. Especially if the big ten creates their assciation and championship and the sec does the same.
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(In response to this post by TabbHokie)
4y
prohibitive.
(In response to this post by TabbHokie)
4y
years. Annual amount TBD based on conference they join and what that conferences media deal pays annually.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
it is not party to the ESPN GOR, the ACC has no rights to them. The fact is the ACC controls our other sports, not football. This will not be as costly as you imagine.
Heather Dinich
@CFBHeather
A source told me that if Notre Dame were to withdraw from the ACC, it can play football wherever it wants. It would have to pay exit fee and grant of rights fees for its other sports.
(In response to this post by Stech)
4y
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
"Th grant of rights deal includes language that if Irish choose to join a conference in football before 2036, they are contractually obligated to join the ACC"
So the easy way around that for ND is to work with the B1G to act as a member but not officially join...yet. That allows ND to secure their spot for the future, still have a current path to the playoffs, and be able to wait for the ACC GOR to expire (or be dissolved if the ACC implodes). Would not be hard at all for ND to do what they want and avoid any ACC fees.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
anything for Notre Dame? At least I wouldn't be sure the ACC, Big XII, and Pac-12 will be included in the next playoff contract now that it appears we live in a P2 World.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
4y
Things could start moving very quickly then,
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
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TerryD
4y
I posted about it last year. ND football is not part of the ACC. It is not part of the ACC's GOR.
(In response to this post by Stech)
E
EDGEMAN
4y
...leading the implosion of the ACC, and the death of the GOR contract.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
happen at the same time. But that would require enough schools choosing to leave at the same time. As long as the GOR stands the schools will not be able to afford to leave. Schools will need to convince enough other schools that ending the GOR is in their best interest. Otherwise, no implosion.
** Edited by wwhokie1 at 7/1/2022, 2:53:50 PM
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
4y
Domer says they can, but I would need to see proof.
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
H
HOO86
4y
The Networks that are funding this are only interested in limited specific brands. The idea that either will take half a dozen ACC members is not realistic. So are a dozen ACC members going to void the GOR with nowhere to go? They're already saying Washington and Oregon don't move the needle. There won't be homes for 6 or 8 ACC members. SEC doesn't need FSU or Clemson. The ESPN already has Florida and South Carolina covered. FSU and Miami aren't exactly taking college football by storm these days.
Then when you add all the brands into 1 league, some of them will cease to stay brands. Not everyone can go undefeated if you put all the tough games in 1 league. USC and UCLA haven't exactly dominated football in a long time. 20 years for USC. Texas for about as long. Michigan is a brand that hasn't exactly done anything in decades.
The PAC will have to end up doing what the Big XII did and add from the Mountain West. Bring Hawaii in! The Rainbow Warriors rule!
(In response to this post by Stech)
M
Mercury
4y
SEC package 4 and Big ten package 4 (8 votes) and see ya...
Sounds like the old ACC schools are the ones who are working behind the scenes to save their asses, and letting the newbies (BC, Cuse, Pitt VT, Louisville, Miami in the wind) (also maybe FSU and Wake) and save GT.
UNC, NC Duke and UVA to the Big ten and NC State, Clemson GT to the SEC and might pull in FSU to get eighth vote.
and BOOM
who can you trust, and if you can't, how can you and your organization have any Discussion on programs or collaboration including competitive sporting relationships, as well as anything academically or R&D involved.
(In response to this post by Stech)
E
EDGEMAN
4y
...sinking ship. Book it!
(In response to this post by Stech)
4y
media companies, regional networks, streaming outfits, etc who are not owned by ESPN? If so could The B1G persuade ESPN to sell i.e. all of Georgia Tech's content to The B1G? Ga Tech could pay exit fees, join The B1G and while the ACC would still own their media rights, the rights are pledged to ESPN and ESPN could contract with The B1G. The B1G could bargain with their own media rights against ESPN who really needs those rights for their national advertisers.
Grasping at straws to circumvent the GoR.
(In response to this post by Stech)
4y
ESPN writer
Heather Dinich
@CFBHeather
A source told me that if Notre Dame were to withdraw from the ACC, it can play football wherever it wants. It would have to pay exit fee and grant of rights fees for its other sports.
(In response to this post by Stech)
4y
non-football sports of ND. But, there would have to be some penalty for ending the 5 yearly football games. Don't know what that would be. That was also part of the contract they would be walking out on. Nevertheless, I assume it would be financially viable for ND. The settlement for those five annual games would probably be setteled in court unless it is spelled out in the contract. But ND is not nearly as tied to the ACC as other ACC schools.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)
4y
Maybe it doesn't matter. I think it should. Join the B1G. You are just one of their pack, and will be treated as one of their pack. Probably halfway down their membership in terms of clout in decision making.
The ACC on the other hand already treats you as their kingpin even with football not being fully invested. I would venture to say that Notre Dame would join UNC (hate it) in the leadership role of respect. Their opinions, ability to lead direction of the Conference, mean much more than others. Debate my point if you like.
I have close friends at Maryland and Rutgers, they still feel like outsiders in the B1G, and perceive they always will be.
(In response to this post by goldendomer)