its contractual arrangements with the ACC after 2036? ESPN extended the ACC agreement to 2036 because it has the ACC over a barrel - they are getting tons of content, and paying bargain basement rates for it. Why wouldn't they extend it? As of 2036, they don't HAVE to continue the arrangement with the ACC Network if they don't think it will be profitable anymore, nor do they have any obligation to keep paying the ACC the same amount of money in 2036 that they're paying them now. And, they certainly won't if all the best football brands leave the conference between 2029 and 2036. So many of you on here look at thing as they exist right now, today, and assume that's how they will exist in 2030 and 2036. I'm sure in 2019 that the ADs at Oregon State and Washington State thought everything would be hunky dory, that the next media rights contract renewals would come and go just like they always do, and that the PAC-12 wasn't going anywhere.

They can literally walk away from college sports if they are so inclined. But where I think you are off is the assumption that the ACC minus 4 is worth much less than the B12 as it is today. For many reasons, including what ESPN wants from what will be the ACC and B12 level in 2036 will determine that.

are definite candidates. I would also think they would like to have one maybe two schools in Florida for Football, USF and maybe UCF or another South Florida school like Florida International that is ranked in the top 100 of US News and World Report Rankings, and 46 for public schools. They have plans to expand the stadium to 45k, the stadium is near the campus, and not very far from the University of Miami. If they pay/pull a well known coach, they could potentially get great recruits. If ESPN is willing to pay more money to the ACC, than the B12 because the NCAA tournament expands, it could easily happen. I also would not be surprised that with ESPN dropping Major League Baseball, they are positioning to eventually take over the NCAA 🏀tournament. IMHO, if that happens, it will definitely expand. They make money off of expansion/more tournament games. So will the basketball schools and conferences especially at the Sweet 16 and in level, just like the 🏈 playoff money. ** Edited by Stech at 3/5/2025, 10:23:27 AM

11 years from now. ESPN will go to where they can make the most profit, and those rights will be bid on by other entities. ESPN is not in the business of building conferences in the NCAA. They are in the business of making money. If they wanted more basketball content, they could have out bid those that have the Big East rights. In addition, basketball is worth 25% AT BEST of football. Also, the SEC has the money to "build" their own basketball conference. The future of the playoff era of FBS, is in football, not basketball. I'm also perplexed on how VT fans would even want to be in a basketball conference. You guys are a football school, through and through.

I'll take them one at a time. "You are talking about something that may or may not happen 11 years from now. ESPN will go to where they can make the most profit, and those rights will be bid on by other entities. ESPN is not in the business of building conferences in the NCAA. They are in the business of making money." No one knows what is going to happen, not even me. :-) If I gave that impression, that is not the case, but I do think what I laid out is a plausible theory for the future. I don't believe this is 11 years out, the penalties to leave in 2031 will be less than what the P2 make in a year, I think those that get an invite will be playing in a P2 in 2031. I agree ESPN is in the business of making money through sports first. They will not be the NCAA, but they could take over the broadcasting of the expanded NCAA basketball tournament to make money. Dropping the MLB frees them up to be able to do that IMHO. "If they wanted more basketball content, they could have out bid those that have the Big East rights. In addition, basketball is worth 25% AT BEST of football. Also, the SEC has the money to "build" their own basketball conference." I don't think they want every Big East team. Just like the ACC didn't want every Big East team when they were acquiring them. Just like the SEC doesn't want every ACC team. They want the basketball schools that will make them the most money. The SEC is Southern mainly eastern Conference, but ESPN needs a national conference too. I think the ACC with their penalty money coming in and ESPN signed on until 2036 could easily be that conference for them. Lastly, I think the NCAA basketball tournament is going to expand to 80-90 some teams. That is going to be more money. I think they use the early rounds to keep paying for other sports, but I think the Sweet 16 and later rounds are going to produce more money similar to what they do with the football playoff. So I think the economics are going to change for the NCAA College Basketball. "I'm also perplexed on how VT fans would even want to be in a basketball conference. You guys are a football school, through and through." You are correct that Virginia Tech is first a football school, there is no denying that. Because of that most Techies first want to be in P2, it's pretty split between the B1G and the SEC. We get a lot of our students from up north and many of them want the B1G, but we also have closer access location wise to the SEC since most Techies live in Virginia. Now I think we will get into a P2, but let's say for some reason we didn't, I think that means that only about 2-3 schools went to the P2. If we aren't one of them, you could see a shift in priorities because each Conference at the top has one number one sport whether they admit it or not. Thus if the P2 didn't work out for us, and we could end up in an ACC with schools like Duke, Kansas, Arizona, UCONN etc. I could easily see our investments shift more to basketball knowing the top recruits in football go the SEC and B1G, but the recruits that want a Conference where basketball is first, could easily be the ACC. ** Edited by Stech at 3/5/2025, 1:32:25 PM

fry IMHO. ** Edited by Stech at 3/4/2025, 6:04:59 PM

But I'm not sure that Clemson and F$U are wanted by the SEC. The B1X probably wants to add them in a few years... Have to wonder if ESPN wants to build a "super conference" by cherry picking the best SEC and ACC programs (probably 70% SEC/ 30% ACC), then have a "JV conference" with the left overs...or merge the best of the leftovers with the best of the B12 for a "B-league" conference, then anyone left drops into the "C-league."

and have more power. It wouldn’t surprise me to eventually see an NFC AFC model between them.

Why would the ACC powers that be cave in without a lifeline? I know some think the ACC leadership is just stupid and ignorant but they are not. Why would the what 14 schools that the P2 is not after agree to give up millions in penalties and $$$ to FSU, Clemson etc without knowing what their future would be? I don't think they would.

I hate that, but why would FSU and Clemson leave if they get MORE from the ACC than the P2 would give them? One development that would help that strategy is if the P2 start doing the same, that is paying their big dogs more than the rest of the P2. If FSU or Clemson come over the the P2, would the P2 consider them worthy of a top half payout, or a bottom half? FSU and Clemson at this point seem more like a bottom half payout, and not another Ohio State or Texas level addition (top half). Maybe the ACC could keep up with that? ** Edited by Truthahn at 3/5/2025, 1:02:01 PM

Risk/reward. No one wants to be Wash St/Oregon St so they are making concessions to keep at the big kid table another decade.

a protection clause in the event of material change. idk. The shocking part is the the exit fee reportedly includes GOR/media rights.. Set at 165M in 2026 with a $75 minimum in 2030-36. That's a lot less than the GOR pre-court case estimates...

IMHO is the reason they signed it. Nothing else makes sense.

at least IMO, that portends long term security in the settlement. To me it screams, "we're all tired of paying lawyers for something that we as adults and leaders should have been able to resolve on our own." My opinion of Jim Phillips continues to decrease. I acknowledge he was dealt a bad hand but, I am not sure how effectively he played the cards he was dealt. That take is still preliminary and subject to change as more details and results are produced. I am absolutely sure that occupying a conference with the morons from FSU is not a path I would voluntarily select if presented in the future.

you're wrong. My statement was just that my opinion is changing on Phillips. I feel certain he believes he got something.

even if I said it. It’s a terrible time for such weak leadership for Virginia Tech, terrible!!!