It appears that the AQ model is still very much on the table.

ACC & Big12 doubling down doesn't mean much. I would be more confident if Sankey was doing the doubling down. ** Edited by Hokester at 7/9/2025, 5:39:25 PM ** Edited by Hokester at 7/9/2025, 5:39:52 PM ** Edited by Hokester at 7/9/2025, 5:40:42 PM

Under the 5-11 (and some selection criteria changes), the ACC will receive only one bid for some years and the B12 will become an one bid conference for most years. I agree it’s still better than the 4-4-2-2-1.

SMU was #10, Miami was #13. Even Clemson was #16 after winning the ACC championship. BYU and Iowa State were 17 and 18, so they were both just outside a 16 team play off. The B10 would have only had 4, even with 16 teams (with Illinois at #20 being the next B10 team, hanging back with Syracuse, an ACC team with the same record but one further back in the poll). ** Edited by Truthahn at 7/9/2025, 5:41:11 PM

Not until some of the top 8 ACC brands move over to the BigXII. Every ACC program with less viewership than VT should be concerned about Brett's words yesterday.

Teams under VT don't have enough viewership to satisfy media partners. Cuse NCSt and Pitt may have a chance, but if the SEC/Big10 don't scoop up more than a few teams then everyone under VT is in trouble, which is why they should be worried. VT and Louisville will be fine regardless what goes down, but BY isn't executing an AQ model until this plays out.

No offense, but I have a firm view and don't want to rehash the same arguments. If you're interested, read my article from May 2025, when every pundit speculated that FSU and Clemson's departure was imminent and ESPN might drop the ACC contract. The bottom line of the article is: "The ONLY scenario where the ACC loses schools to the Big 12 is if 1) the ACC loses many high-profile schools, and 2) the ACC couldn't find a media partner." Since ESPN has renewed the ACC contract, there is zero chance that any ACC school will leave for the Big 12 before 2036. On the other hand, there's a high chance that some Big 12 schools join the ACC around 2030.

BigXII teams aren't leaving on the eve of a lucrative tv deal to sign on with a conference that has 10 G5 quality football teams. VT should be working with UL to get into the BigXII or working with UL and WVU to get into the SEC. The ACC is death by arrogance in the same vein as the PacXII. These new conferences are based on TV ratings and attendance/atmosphere. The ACC places last by a long way. The new PacXII is closer to the ACC than the ACC is to the BigXII starting 2026.

Asking for a friend.

Youtube videos, blogs, postings and articles back in April/May 2024. How many people said that FSU/Clemson’s plan B was to stay with the ACC in exchange of more money and how many people were confident that ESPN would renew the ACC contract? You won’t find many.

decades of NCAA tournament, no conference ever asked for more than 1 auto bid, they just flexed muscle for expansion and greased paths for more at-larges. Even the SEC and the B1G have to know there is no appetite for a B1G/SEC invitational. The public can accept 8-10 of the 12-16 teams in a playoff coming from 2 conferences, but only if all but 2 of them are at-larges. I feel like this is all just noise to distract us from something else. ACC and BigXII get their moment to flex. B1G and SEC will ultimately agree to 1 auto bid. But what do they get for the show? Something will shake out that simply gives the SEC and B1G an even bigger leg up in the at-large discussion. Will the playoff pool be decided prior to conference championships? Will there be some sort of seeding/hosting guarantees? I dunno, but all of this just feels like a hustle playing out in the media for something bigger.

and Big 10’s SOS.

for both their leagues. It doesn't matter if they only get one team in - you absolutely cannot agree to just hand the SEC and Big 10 double the amount of AQ spots in the championship field, because, in so doing, you are admitting that your league is only half as good before a single game is ever played. Imagine trying to sell the ACC or the Big 12 to anyone after doing that. I'm glad they both at least appear to understand this concept.

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞.

the bids. I mean good grief B1G you could get more than 4, especially if Strength of Schedule becomes a big part of the rankings. Make sure it is, and fight that battle, instead of this insulting Invitational Argument because you are in a Power Hungry Conference.

CFP formatting schemes is anti-competitive. And part of that is even making the regular season less competitive. ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 7/9/2025, 7:29:10 AM

All these playoff lovers are plain and simple wrong!. Money may be created but it will eventually kill the love.

New Year's Day. Regular season games mean less. Games are moved to other days of the week. Neutral site games. And with the focus now on a larger and larger playoff, the biggest games of the year are off campus. Just lame. Would love to have a system where the regular season and NYD are made great again. For several years, I've wanted to have a tiered relegation and promotion system similar to the EFL. I'd divide the nation into two (either East and West, or Big Ten states and SEC states with the other states being folded in). It would be divided equally according to the number of "FBS" schools. Each side would have 5 tiers, and regular season games would only be played in the tier (no OOC games). Then, the two sides' champions would meet in a national final on NYD. This would be massive for the regular season (no cupcakes, and tons on the line with relegation and promotion and the dream of making a national tier final). ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 7/9/2025, 7:56:47 AM

with both no shot at a Big 10 championship but have #3 and #4 locked up. They both rest their starters for the final regular season game. Going to be like the NFL for the final week with the top teams resting starters. Except for a few games, last week of the NFL season sucks. ** Edited by HouClone at 7/10/2025, 1:11:28 PM

conference. 1) Then what is the regular season for? And 2) This proves nothing if your conference actually sucks.

loss for a school that wasn't raked high in the preseason, would almost always take that school out of the talk of a national championship unless their schedule included other top 10 schools. When was a 2 loss school ever crowned a national champion using polls? Today, a 2 loss school has a shot in the playoffs with power 4 schools. Win the conference, and your in. That makes the conference games that much more important. As long as VT has a shot of winning the conference, every game is important. If for instance they lose to USC, and are upset by some one out of the blue this year, they had no chance of being a national champion - no matter the odds. Today, even with 2 or 3 losses, that last game against Virginia becomes huge, as it's not just a bowl pecking order at stake, it's the chance to get into the playoffs, get hot, and go on a run. That goes for any school in the P4, or G6 for that matter. I think it makes the regular season exponentially better. Mid wee games are another story. You guys know I follow Toledo, and I can tell you first hand that those midweek Maction games kills attendance. The trade off for the meager media deal actually loses money to the bottom line for Toledo, but not so much for the other MAC schools with meager attendance. The exposure however, is ever so important, as the kids, no matter which level, want to be on TV. This year, Toledo returns their quarterback, is incredibly deep on the offensive line, and have a 4 star transfer from Kentucky at running back. If they win their first two games, (@Kentucky, home against Western Kentucky), they will be in the playoff discussion, and have a chance to run the table, and actually get in. That makes homecoming against Akron a much more important game than just winning a MAC conference title. Expand the playoffs to look like the FCS playoffs, and the country and media partners will buy into it.

A loss means not much at all to BAMA now

Regular season games lose value, but ACC, B12, and G6 Regular season games increase in value.

What a moment. Already a bygone era.