ESPN's Burke Magnus on College Sports
He goes in depth about all the P5. He thinks that the ACC is in a period of stability and safety. ESPN is working with the ACC on things to add value. And he indicates that the ACC is the basketball league for ESPN way ahead of peer conferences.
And he reiterates that the time ESPN think about market size pales in comparison to Rivalries. Maybe he's been reading here. The excitement around Rivalries drive college sports. He doesn't think there will be a P2. He thinks the P5 will continue to thrive. He was shocked a bit to see USC/UCLA join the Midwest brand due to geography.
He comes on at the 25 minute mark and talks about the Big Ten and SEC. Then he talks about the ACC at the 50 minute mark. It's an interesting listen.
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27 Replies
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Stech
3y
He went further than Skipper with details on the security of the ACC. He talked about the investment they made in the ACCN and how this would not be the time to pull out, it's to early. That these Channels are more about 20 years than 5 years, like most businesses.
One thing it looks like he missed on, if Brett Mc Murphy is correct and 4 more leave the PAC. It will be more of a P4 than a P5, that is very significant, if the Power Conferences break off. Maybe they won't, but if they do that could play a big role in how you get an invite to the playoff. In the meantime, I am pretty much convinced the Basketball breaks off from the NCAA, not necessarily from the other D1 schools, but from not paying the NCAA, just like the football playoff.
** Edited by Stech at 8/25/2022, 10:01:27 AM
(In response to this post by HOO86)
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daveinop
3y
we don't know if it is pro rata or negotiated; but there is one.
He also dumped on the cupcake games (Amen!); ACC would benefit financially by going to 9 conf games. So add 2 and go to 3-6-6 (and since this is me talking, let schools sell their own remaining OOC games).
B1G adding 4 more would be the potential source of additional content they referenced that B1G has yet to sell. But it sounds like ESPN would like to renew with PAC if they can.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
theat will help create some much better rivalry games.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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ren_hoek
3y
Pitt, VT, Louisville, heck maybe it would be a multiplier for Syracuse or BC.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
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ren_hoek
3y
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
3y
But now see value in Cincinnati and go with 3-6-6. Both would be an improvement.
(In response to this post by ren_hoek)
3y
to cleanly rotating between the 2 groups of 5 year after year? I know it should work on paper. However, what may work on paper may not always work when put into practice (see the MAC's attempt to play a round robin division schedule and a total of 8 conference games with 13 football members).
(In response to this post by ren_hoek)
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hokieZ71
3y
It's already a given that ESPN is paying the ACC peanuts. They'd easily tack on another $36M per year (To pay WVU) to the deal to have better content across the board that they already own.
Add WVU and games including Pitt, VT, Louisville and UVA start getting better ratings? Perhaps also BC, UNC and NCST? You mean its possible to have better ratings without Clemson, Miami or FSU playing these schools every week? Here's some more peanuts, ACC!
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
3y
schools. They even play for the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy. Ben played college football at WVU (center) and was HC at Syracuse (1949–1973). I believe both schools consider it a secondary rivalry, but a rivalry nonetheless.
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
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obguthr
3y
when he says P5 will thrive. Either Pac-12 eats the Big 12 or vice versa. The jury is still out on the ACC's fate. Honestly, once the B1G and SEC have their fill, the best leftovers should detonate their respective conferences and form a new one. Any school that doesn't make that final cut isn't power conference material and likely never was.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
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Stech
3y
is the second guy (first was former ESPN President John Skipper and mastermind of the mega conferences) to say the ACC is stable. They will look silly saying that and it breaks up, very silly. They both are very connected, so I will go with his and Skipper's opinion over any of our opinions. They have the connections and information that none of us have, certainly not at their level. It's not even close.
** Edited by Stech at 8/25/2022, 10:08:18 AM
(In response to this post by obguthr)
3y
Is it possible this is the angle they've decided to take in the public in an attempt to avoid being sued when the ACC collapses?
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
3y
(In response to this post by hokieball)
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hokieZ71
3y
"Those NW schools are leaving. It's so over. And we are taking our money to pay the Pac 12 and moving it over to the B1G's late night game time slot. WAY better ROI!"
He does that, he loses all credibility he has in negotiating with conferences forever.
** Edited by hokieZ71 at 8/25/2022, 8:23:23 AM
(In response to this post by obguthr)
3y
I remember a time when this sentiment was well regarded. Not anymore.
(In response to this post by obguthr)
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hokieZ71
3y
They add San Diego State, maybe Nevada and they’re just as financially sound as the Big XII is.
So, either the B1G eats the Pac NW schools or the Pac 12 survives
(In response to this post by obguthr)
3y
still survive by adding schools from the MWC, WAC (i.e. New Mexico State), and even the Big West (i.e. Hawai'i). Now by no means do I think the Pac would be a power conference school at that point. When a conference is trying to survive, its members may not really care if it is a power conference or non-power conference. All they care about is making sure they have a home.
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
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Truthahn
3y
I guess Oregon State and Wash State would merge with the MWC then, and maybe adopt the PAC name?
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
3y
XII doesn't have a conference network? I know that is the rumor, but I'm not sure that rumor is a slam dunk because having a conference network may be better than having no conference network. Also, even if the schools do end up joining the Big XII, it is possible that the ACC, Big XII, and Pac may no longer be considered "power conferences" for the next FBS Playoff contract. At least there is no guarantee that the ACC and/or the Big XII would remain a power conference regardless of what happens to the Pac.
If there are 6 schools left, then the Pac-6 could add anywhere from 2-6 new members and still keep the conference's NCAA automatic bids. Potential candidates include: San Diego St (MWC), Fresno St (MWC), Hawai'i (Big West), Nevada (MWC), UNLV (MWC), Boise St (MWC), New Mexico (MWC), New Mexico St (C-USA), UTEP (C-USA), Utah St (MWC), Air Force (MWC), Colorado St (MWC), Utah Valley (WAC), and Utah Tech (WAC). Assuming the conference is no longer a power conference, the Pac-6 could expand the candidate pool to include Big Sky schools, Big West schools, and West Coast Conference schools.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
I laughed when he said women's basketball is incredibly valuable.
In general, sounds like ESPN spin. And if the P5 is going to thrive, why didn't Texas, Oklahoma, USC and UCLA recognize this?
And if even men's basketball is so important, why isn't the ACC (or the SEC or B1G for that matter) beating a path to Lawrence to add the KU? It certainly would be great content for the ACCN.
(In response to this post by obguthr)
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hokieZ71
3y
Academically, the university fits with each group of president's ideals. It is basically driving the Kansas City market which will appeal to the B1G and it offers a rival for Missouri and a stronger Western presence for the SEC. And yeah, the most historical basketball school there is. This phase of expansion is about consolidating all of the major football powers. (ND, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, etc....) Next is executing whatever "vision" each commissioner has.
And the SEC does care about adding higher ranked academic schools in addition to propping up it's basketball. Why else is UNC and UVA a target for the SEC if this is 100% football? UNC was nationally relevant for about 2 years in the late 90's before Mack Brown left. UVA had a long run of winning 7 games per year under George Welsh and beat FSU that one time that beating FSU actually mattered in the mid 90's. And that's about it....
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
3y
brand that either would take and possibly fight over. Plus football is terrible
(In response to this post by hokieZ71)
3y
Kansas could easily form a basketball rivalry with Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, and maybe even Wisconsin which the Big Ten might find appealing. While the SEC may want Kansas for the rivalries they have with Mizzou and Oklahoma to a lesser extent. Plus, Kansas and Kentucky could easily form a basketball rivalry which the SEC might find appealing given the history of both programs.
Now I'm not saying that Kansas would be either's first choice in the next round. However, Kansas could easily be either conference's final choices (i.e. 22nd, 23rd, 24th) depending on their target numbers.
Link:
AAU Membership
(In response to this post by LocalExperts)
Excellent take on Kansas
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)