San Diego St - 35k students, $353 million endowment SMU - 12k students, $2 billion endowment Colorado St - 34k students, $558 million endowment Tulane - 14k students, $$1.9 billion endowment For comparison VT - 36k students, $1.3 billion endowment UVA - 25k students, $14 billion endowment ** Edited by HokieAl at 3/5/2023, 9:48:21 AM

Let’s say Apple TV comes up with a 30-40 million dollar payout. I realize that might not be case, but let’s say they do. The exposure before the game even happens, is going to be what? A huge part of ESPN and Fox is the promoting that goes on, before a game happens. Maybe some day the Streamers will be able to compete there, but it’s hard to see that happening for many years IMHO. I get that Stanford and Cal may not care because of their prominent academics, but it’s hard to believe the others with an alternative, will turn down that alternative.

CU and the four corner schools, it will pretty much be a waste of time. I'm not sure how their new TV contract will work though. But I think Tulane and SMU are intriguing. I think those schools should be possible targets for the ACC. Lots of upside to get the ACCN into Texas IMO. Louisiana not as much, but would be a good travel partner for SMU and NOLA would be nice recruiting ground. SDSU I guess would be a value to SoCal, but again, I'm not sure how since we don't know the new TV contract offer.

The same rumor thinks Colorado may leave and return to the Big12. So the Pac12 is talking to Colorado State. Looks to me like Jim Phillips will leave the ACC without any good options by inaction.

they lose Colorado. So you probably have the two, to replace USC and UCLA in San Diego State and SMU. Then you have others in case they lose either the 4 Corners or Oregon and Washington. Either way, they are playing some big time Defense, instead of the way they will sell it, which is, this is big time offense.

(and the presidents of the conference Universities to some extent) have NO gameplan whatsoever. The incompetence is baffling and infuriating. Many moves could have been made by now, as well as with engagement from ESPN, to secure an ACC future that would have been strong! Years of passing on WVU and Cincinnati cost the league rivalries and new markets (especially Ohio). There were years of talk (when Swofford was still in charge) that Texas to the ACC was hot and heavy rumor. Who knows there because nothing really ever came of it...and again, ESPN, if they wanted, could have helped this to come about because of their ties to Texas and the LHN. Now opportunities exist with combinations of 4-6 PAC teams, SMU, Houston, Baylor, Tulane, UCF (not that this would bring any benefit because of already having FSU and Miami in the conference). This would open new markets for much needed revenue (Texas, Louisiana, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Utah). The main thing with all of this I don't quite understand is the reluctance (so it seems) from ESPN to build a stronger ACC, which would benefit them all around, and add new states, tv sets, advertising, etc....for a more secure future with agreements with their SEC & ACC properties? If the ACC/ESPN don't act at this moment in time, it sends a message that the network is willing to watch the ACC dissolve in a few years. Maybe they want the likes of Wake, Pitt, BC, Miami off their hands and off their payroll so to speak! We really are at a crossroads as a conference and watching our commissioner and conference leadership sit idly by is a statement in itself. Yes, those are crickets you hear and unfortunately they are growing louder and in unison! ** Edited by hoodat at 3/5/2023, 7:27:12 AM ** Edited by hoodat at 3/5/2023, 7:30:02 AM

It would explain much about the expansion paralysis.

It sure does explain why we hear absolutely nothing.