All Hokie, All the Time. Period. Presented by First Bank & Trust Company

O
ombandit OP
Aug 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM ET
Future conference opponents playing at noon on ESPN…
LOL Cyclones vs Wildcats… BIG 12 seems logical conference home for VT if ACC goes, in my opinion… (I’ll duck! 😎) BIG 12 picks leftover cream from ACC and increases strength of Conference by double…

50 Replies

HokieAl HokieAl
11mo
I'd prefer if the ACC and B12 survived with just olympic sports
Football goes to something brand new that gets a fresh start and pulls in some/all of the ACC and B12 teams with a football only focus. Big matchups. Variety. Alignment based on making interesting tv. And this new entity can more strongly push back against the P2. Cal and Stanford can join the football thing or go back to the PAC. This lets ACC basketball live on. Same for B12 basketball and what they have built. But football is allowed to shift and evolve into a made for tv conference that will benefit the schools, the fans, and the sport.
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
11mo
I tend to agree. And I don't think it would be a bad place to be.
V
VTCALS72
11mo
I do because if that happens
It will most likely mean that both UVA and UNC join Clemson, FSU and Miami in leaving. If those 5 make it to the P2 then we will have MD and UVA to the north, UNC to the southeast and Tennessee to the southwest. In other words, completely ringed in by P2 with essentially no home recruiting area or high level TV air space that we are not competing directly with the P2. Add a conference in another part of the country and an area that the VT area kind of looks at like we did with BC and Cuse and that my friend is the hardest road out there. WVU brings a lot but not even the ISU/KSU/OSU peer institutions can help us get ratings with that much P2 saturating our whole area.
Old Line Hokie Old Line Hokie
11mo
"If" UVA is a P-2 school, they'll have a huge advantage....
over Tech with instate recruits. Tech will never be able to match UVA's P-2 money. I guess that Tech will only win 9 out of the 10 rivalry games once Tech is non-Power 2 conference member. ;)
H
HokiesACC2004
11mo
Oh well, it will beat being in the AAC or SunBelt
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
11mo
I wouldn't knock the Sun Belt because it may have more members passionate
about football than the ACC.
H
HokiesACC2004
11mo
Not meant to knock the SunBelt but the pay isn't the same
And let's be honest here. You think our fan base will stomach being in the Sun Belt? ** Edited by HokiesACC2004 at 8/26/2025, 5:47:18 AM
VTHokie2000 VTHokie2000
11mo
Some fans would because the brand of football played would remind them of
the Big East Football Conference Days. Other fans wouldn't because they believe VT should be in a P2 conference even though VT and the fans aren't willing to pay the price of admission.
Maroon Baboon Maroon Baboon
11mo
Iowa State is a peer institution.
I read an article awhile back and it asked schools to list their peer institutions. I think top 20 or 25 or so. The only two schools that listed VT as a peer, and that that sentiment was reciprocated were NC State and Iowa State. Just sayin'. ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 8/23/2025, 11:25:28 PM
M
MrFantastic!
11mo
Much truth, Both have potential.
Great fan bases. I think Kansas State also. Actually VT and State football wise should have some advantages . Closer to recruiting hotbeds. That said it seems both KSU and ISU play better football. I think they have not forgot their roots..
Maroon Baboon Maroon Baboon
11mo
There were a ton of fans in Ireland the way it looked.
S
Stech
11mo
Could be, but ESPN owns 1/2 of ACC Network, I see them backing ACC for that
reason more than the B12 that has their football and basketball coverage that is basically split between ESPN and Fox. Think like an investor and not like a fan on this situation. It's about the money or return on money they have already invested and are making money on now, and in the future. Add some basketball blue bloods to the ACC. I think many people are underrating basketball. If they expand the NCAA tournament and pay the Sweet 16 like the eventual IMHO Playoff 16. I think ESPN holds on to the ACC, but doubles down on it as a basketball conference. ** Edited by Stech at 8/23/2025, 8:53:54 PM
wwhokie1 wwhokie1
11mo
Problem is, ACC basketball is not what it used to be.
Hopefully the ACC can get better in basketball. But ACC basketball has been in decline
S
Stech
11mo
That’s why the Big East Merger could happen, I know the 🏈 fans won’t like
It, but it is entirely possible. ESPN has looked at the ACC as a basketball conference for a long time. ** Edited by Stech at 8/30/2025, 6:59:24 PM
zosohokie zosohokie
11mo
I think Big 12 is much more likely spot for
VT than SEC/Big 10
2
2hhoop3
11mo
Should the ACC implode......
with schools exiting for the Big 12 Jim Phillips will form an infamous trio with Larry Scott and Mike Tranghese.
R
RJHokie
11mo
The commissioners from Hell!
But might need to add Swofford to the group too! ** Edited by RJHokie at 8/23/2025, 10:03:35 PM
2
2hhoop3
11mo
There are without a doubt.....
valid criticisms of and concerns about Swofford and everyone is entitled to their opinion. My opinion is that his longevity coupled with some actual accomplishments would keep me from ever including him with that group.
R
RJHokie
11mo
Perhaps so, but I believe he was also the UNC athletic director when
the fake classes scenario began in full bloom and such classes existed for all of his career as the athletic director. And as @Atlee Hokie posted, he also kept his son employed to the detriment of the ACC.
2
2hhoop3
11mo
Like I said......
there are certainly valid criticisms. I think as far as a list of infamous commissioners Swofford's role as UNC AD is not as relevant as what he did as Commissioner to cushion the fall. Scott and Tranghese are in a class of their own at present and Phillips still has time to join that group depending upon how future events play out.
B
Big12 guy
11mo
I'm not so sure that Phillips has any control
of the circumstances as they unfold. He is saddled with the ACC media contract, and while the recent extension didn't give the ACC the money it needed to be a "power 3", I'm not convinced there was any other option. The recent settlement with FSU/Clemson bought the conference some time to figure things out, and only time will tell if the uneven distribution model works for the conference, or not. Is there anything that Phillips can do today to change things? Or is he prisoner to "events" as they play out?
V
VTCALS72
11mo
No absolutes IMHO but both the ACC and B12 are more "prisoners"
to events than drivers of the vehicle.
2
2hhoop3
11mo
He has the opportunity....
to keep those without P2 options from going to the Big 12 which, without other changes, is likely no better option, if not actually worse. The reality is people in the Big 12, with a few exceptions, don't care about the ACC and that feeling is reciprocated by people in the ACC.
V
VTCALS72
11mo
Yes
That is why I feel so strongly that a P2 and little p 3 seems like the most likely scenario.
B
Big12 guy
11mo
The ACC/B12 fan discussion will continue
no matter what unfolds, and while it's interesting to read the different takes, it's almost irrelevent. there were many fans in the ACC and B12 that did not see the PAC imploding, and many wanted the PAC to stay intact, as the fewer power conferences there are, the more powerful the P2 gets. No matter what happens moving forward, options become las and less for those not invited to the P2, not just for the ACC schools if your conference is raided by them, but also the B12. I'm not convinced it even matters for the ACC or B12, until, and unless, they are afforded the ability to realistically compete with the new found P2. What I do know, is when there were 5 power conferences, the votes should have been 3-2 against the P2. Now it is 2-2. If we lose the ACC, there won't be anyone left to vote against the P2. All that being said, I will continue to want VT to be in the B12, for selfish reasons of course.
H
hokieZ71
11mo
It’s still kind of 2.5 to 2.
The weight of an independent ND does count for half a conference. At least in that it shifts the power to either side. The problem with that is I don’t know if ND’s independence meshes well with the future of the ACC and B12. So I don’t know which side the 2.5 favors.
2
2hhoop3
11mo
I do not disagree....
with what you said. I need to clarify my Big 12 reluctance and what I meant by "other changes". I do not believe it does either the Big 12 or the ACC any good to poach the other because as you said that likely converts the existing 2-2 split to 2-1 and that one is still kissing the P2 ring. If both could combine by cherry picking the best candidates from each and creating a geographically balanced two division set up, that seems to me the best opportunity to jettison deadweight, create a P2 competing conference in the rev sports and minimize the geographic dispersion and travel abortion for non revs that an imbalanced combination between flyover country and the east coast likely creates. I think Yormark might have the vision and smarts to pull that sort of combination off. At present, I question whether Phillips has the smarts or the loyalties to make something like that happen. ** Edited by 2hhoop3 at 8/24/2025, 12:19:10 PM
B
Big12 guy
11mo
Unless a "3rd" power conference gets the type of media money
to realistically compete with the P2, I see no reason to move from one to the other. If the P2 poaches the ACC, and schools are scrambling to "survive", it's not at all good for the sport. At this point, I give college football a 33% chance to survive in some shape or form like we all grew up with, and that % is going down by the day.
RTFC RTFC
11mo
Its already well past that
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
11mo
I believe the best of the ACC and the best of the B12 would make ...
... make a very nice conference.
V
VTCALS72
11mo
To do what?
Both conference with the ACC minus the top 4 schools that have positive odds of getting into the P2, could be good on field competitive conferences. But the media has spoken like the soup Nazy on Seinfield, " No soup for you" little p guys.
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
11mo
I understand that. But if, as you say, the P's have spoken, what is ...
... VT supposed to do. There are but 2 choices, in my view. Either de-emphasize football, and all other sports, or join with the best of the rest of the ACC and the best in the B12. I feel that would make a very good conference. I think the football would be good. I think VT fans would still come to Lane to watch. I also think a TV contract would be decent.
V
VTCALS72
11mo
I think there is another option and a better one than those 2
And it is somewhat like the ACC and the B12 merging. It is for the new PAC, Ba2 and ACC trade teams to have an eastern, middle and western conference in what I call the little P3. And no, the leagues do not have to have 15-18 teams. In fact since doing this could create all new rules, allow these 3 to be no larger than 12 teams each. So an ACC minus the supposed Big 4 would be: VT UVA Pitt NCSU Duke Lville G T Cuse Cincy WVU Central Fla South Fla BE and Wake would drop down. B12 would give up the western 4 and the ACC Calford to round out the PAC B12 would give up UCF, WVU and Cincy to the ACC and get SMU and add Tulane if necessary. This model would go hard to get the local and regional advertisers like car dealerships small businesses etc and maybe even produce their own content and stream it out to the networks to either put out with or without adding their own color guys. Then those 36 or so schools would do across conference scheduling so no teams have to go play a Woffard. Screw the P2 in this setup let them go play with themselves.
B
Big12 guy
11mo
Looks good on paper, but dissolving two
conferences to form one just doesn't seem to be in the cards. The B12 has been poached, and when the 4 corners were added, it became a stronger conference IMO then they were with Texas. The main differences between the ACC and B12 at this point, is: The contracts. ACC goes through 2036, the B12 gets another bite of the apple in 2030. In addition, currently the B12 have 5 different media companies showing the B12 content (FOX, ESPN, CBS, TNT, and Peacock steaming). Tougher for the fan, but the exposure is sound. The ACCN is an advantage, until it isn't, and it limits the ACC exposure. the 2030 media deals will tell the tape. the ACC currently has better football brands, but they are top heavy. Except for Cincy, Houston, and UCF, the B12 is remarkably similar in athletic budgets and viewership numbers. The ACC has too many on the lower end. Uneven distributions help the top heavy brands, bur the middle tier schools like GT, VT, NCSU, and Louisville, could find themselves on the wrong end - and it is them, not the lower brands that will revolt. The answer may be that the football breaks away from the B12 and ACC conferences, and negotiate separate media deals. The B12 will try that strategy next go around. That may be the most significant change with the "payments" of players, as it will clearly show the separation of revenue for revenue sharing under the current settlement. The Big East could be the baseline, and both the ACC and B12 are much more valuable than the Big East IMO. Separate the football, and we may get back to regional conferences.
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
11mo
Swofford definitely belongs on that list.
E
EDGEMAN
11mo
But he took care of his son...
...to the detriment of the ACC.
S
Stech
11mo
B12 is 4th behind the P2 and the ACC, I explain why I think so above.
** Edited by Stech at 8/24/2025, 7:14:08 AM
M
mancunian
11mo
An ACC/Big 12 merger of some sort
would not suck at all. Take the top 18 or so from each conference and have some fun. Maybe we could find out what happened to that old fart who was stuck right next to the KU band at the 2007 Orange Bowl. Poor deaf SOB.
W
Windows NT
11mo
VT is leaving the ACC? link?
R
RandomAsianGuy
11mo
man, that’s depressing
H
HokiesACC2004
11mo
It could be worse
O
ombandit OP
11mo
Kind of like our latest commitment…big time player, gonna visit Tennessee &
when he does we’re gonna get outbid OBVIOUSLY… you know! Just not even interesting anymore.
O
ombandit OP
11mo
College football is depressing these days
1
1947Sunbowl
11mo
unless we raise our budget immediately to 200 million
O
ombandit OP
11mo
Yep & pretty sure that’s not gonna happen…
not with inflation out of control continuing for the next 3 years… I know I can’t contribute at any higher level.
2
2hhoop3
11mo
Quit being a drama queen Merc........
and think. $200M if not properly spent does nothing and $180M if wisely spent can move the needle.
O
ombandit OP
11mo
You have a keen grasp of the obvious
2
2hhoop3
11mo
Just trying to help Merc out........
as he grasps very little, if anything. To that end it is best to start with the simple and obvious. ;-)
N
NokieHokie
11mo
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by ignorance"
A
ancient alien 2018
11mo
LOL!! On message boards definitely!!