Wow , Michigan doubles down on leaving the Big 10
"Michigan has a lot of options," Acker said. "The possibility of independence for football is certainly something that has to be considered. Not today, but at the end of the Grant of Rights [in 2036].
"I think it's something you have to think about," Acker continued. "Not because we want to leave the Big Ten Conference [but] because the commissioner's office has made it enormously clear that they're going [proceed] without us. That would be the end of Michigan, as far as I can see, in the Big Ten Conference."
58 Replies
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Truthahn
8mo
Spend a day walking in and out of the admin building and telling people he is just there on vacation.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
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HouClone
8mo
position before he gets canned as commish.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
8mo
If Michigan isn't on board, the conference will not be on board. They and, to a much lesser extent, Ohio State run the Big 10, to the exclusion of everyone else. I would say Ohio State is the only other school that really has a voice when it comes to dealing with what Michigan wants. It's their way or the highway. It's always been that way, always will be.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
8mo
they think their share should be. Little more. They won't ever leave the Big Ten.
(In response to this post by Baltimore_Hokie)
E
EDGEMAN
8mo
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Vippie1
8mo
USC happily blows up a classic historical conference out of hubris and greed, not real need
FSU and Clemson ruining the ACC brand - as members, before even possibly leaving
Texas and now Michigan- huge money blue bloods, in it for only their needs
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
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TerryD
8mo
(In response to this post by Vippie1)
8mo
Triple down while they are at it.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
8mo
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
8mo
Their rights were based on the LA market and Mich; Big 10 make be challenged for a refund
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
8mo
They are currently only contacted through 2030 i believe.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
AI says you're correct Big Ten Conference's media rights expire in 2030,
in 2030, Would be interesting to see if that might spur yet another realignment round of activities
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
8mo
going to form, then I could see it happening around that time. Particularly since the NCAA re-org is still going on and it seems like the perfect time to incorporate the concept if this conference/league only applied to football.
(In response to this post by anotherdamnyankeehokie)
8mo
Different conditions for membership, and core understanding of the 2 universitites. They are prepared to use their entire legal resources to challenge this to the supreme court.
Big 10 botched this, being tiering programs artificially, in the acc, they are going based on media ratings platforms and success No tiering was explcit.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
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2hhoop3
8mo
aside from the ACC's representations as to how the media rights might be apportioned and/or what tiering or other inequitable calculations are involved. Before you say if it was unfair other schools would already be complaining, it may be wise to consider that they (a) do not know enough yet to complain about the formula and/or (b) have such limited options that even a shorter share is better than what they can get elsewhere. The B1G absolutely botched it but, I doubt the ACC is out of the woods yet or a conference yet to be cited as an example to follow.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
8mo
for schools like Michigan.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
T
Truthahn
8mo
A ND deal for Texas, too, back then would have been great for the ACC and Texas. Plus, they could even play each other in a big game. Michigan is another one that could pull this off.
However, if I were the B10, I'd be more afraid of USC and Michigan joining the SEC, bringing along Ohio State and Penn State.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
8mo
more regional conference if one is available.
Would the ACC give FSU that deal if they wanted it?
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
S
Stech
8mo
and absolutely school the rest of the Power Conference schools in how to take advantage of whatever the rules are, why not?
PS Please TerryD and B12 don’t give that schedules are made years in advance, schedules today are constantly being changed at the drop of a hat. That excuse for easy scheduling is ridiculous these days, especially ND, that you both admit that ND can drop and schedule pretty much any time they want to. They don’t want to, and AGAIN, it’s not their fault, it’s other Power Schools and Jim “Dame” Phillips for letting it happen.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
T
TerryD
8mo
Rutgers
Maryland
Minnesota
Michigan State
Purdue
UCLA
etc....
The idea that a Big Ten schedule is some kind of year long slog v. ND's schedule is a conference-biased fallacy.
(In response to this post by Stech)
H
HOO86
8mo
I hope they enjoy the money as a tomato can even in basketball.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
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Stech
8mo
past etc. It’s a tougher schedule than ND has, but since you hate the B1G I don’t expect you to agree. It’s okay, the point is after watching ND take advantage of the system, Michigan and USC might join the Independent status too. Need to play the rules as they are, no one is better at it than ND. 👏👏
(In response to this post by TerryD)
8mo
conference normies. We make accommodations for them in playoffs, scheduling, ect. Would USC and Michigan warrant favors of that kind? If USC and Mich go Indy, two of them are almost guaranteed to miss the playoffs; and maybe all three of them. Neither of them has the massive national (int'l?) audience that ND has cooked-in.
Also I wonder if USC and UM arre really serious. They say 2046 is too long a commitment. That might be long for a media deal, but it is just the GoR. If those guys think they might want to bail in less than twenty years, The B1G should let them go in 2030 when the new media deal lands.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
the other schools let them do it. I keep saying this is not ND’s fault, in fact it’s the opposite, it’s the other Power schools that are the enablers. The playoff rules have a long way to go make the regular season an equal field, both literally and figuratively. However, I am still not sure that Michigan and USC don’t want to sign a long GOR because someone is telling them a P1 is coming, and the canned tomato schools or whatever TeryD called them, won’t be included.
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
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TerryD
8mo
Any school that thinks that ND is "working the system" is free to be independent and to try to emulate ND if they think it so easy or advantageous.
Why don't they ?
(In response to this post by Stech)
T
TerryD
8mo
College football was better when there was.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
8mo
that no only that ND has the ability to schedule top programs, it shows that they do.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
8mo
their ACC schedule was tougher, it wouldn't even be a discussion.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
on the Playoff selection criteria being better, they certainly proved they aren't going to do it. Yes they schedule the SEC and B1G, but not enough of the top teams.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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SMU Pony
8mo
...A&M has somehow managed to avoid playing every good team in the conference this year. Wild.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
to give the more comprehensive picture of what happens.
(In response to this post by SMU Pony)
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Stech
8mo
the Selection Criteria should encourage everyone to schedule stronger in the regular season.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
8mo
selection committee then, not ND?
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
8mo
went to Virginia Tech, ND was my college football team. My mother made sure of it. :-)
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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SMU Pony
8mo
Even lowly Boston College gave ND a better game than both.
Notre Dame has played three teams currently ranked in the Top 25 - Miami, A&M, and USC. Indiana has played one (Oregon) and only has 2-9 Purdue left. Similarly, Ohio State has faced just one Top 25 team this year - Texas, who might drop out altogether if they lose again to A&M in two weeks...although OSU does have Michigan left who will likely be ranked when they play.
Next year ND plays Wisconsin, Michigan State and Purdue from the Big Ten. They're a combined 8-25 this year and are currently 16th, 17th and 18th in the Big Ten standings.
If ND wanted an easier schedule, they'd join the Big Ten.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
8mo
against Cuse, BC, Wake, NCSU, Virginia, and others that will go unnamed.
The ACC is fortunate to have ND games. It's one of the reasons you have the media contract you currently have. Why some here don't see that is beyond my comprehension.
(In response to this post by SMU Pony)
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SMU Pony
8mo
It makes scheduling as a football independent *much* easier and gives their other sports a home in a conference with schools that are geographically and philosophically aligned with ND. It also helps them to be in the ballpark of the P2 in terms of media revenue.
Does ND want to play five of the traditionally best ACC teams each year? Maybe they do - they did just sign that scheduling deal with Clemson. I do think it would be better for the ACC to put its best teams up against ND each year, both for ratings (obviously) and for perception of the conference as a whole.
I maintain that ND as an independent plays a schedule that's as tough or tougher than Big Ten teams
** Edited by SMU Pony at 11/18/2025, 7:57:12 PM
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
T
TerryD
8mo
Neither I nor any ND fans are *****ing about the schedules nor care about anyone outside of ND who does.
Its a red herring, anyway. Conference propaganda, if you will.
ND's strength of schedule is currently better than other CFP contenders.
Strength of Schedules for teams the committee is ranking-
Notre Dame 29th
Oregon 31st
Mississippi 32nd
Indiana 38th
Miami 43rd
Ohio State 50th
Texas Tech 52nd
** Edited by TerryD at 11/18/2025, 7:19:26 AM
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
8mo
However if anybody can take advantage of it, it's ND. As you keep saying ND doesn't care about anybody but ND, 100% agree! However, as hard as it might be for you to believe, this was a compliment on how ND takes advantage of the rules better than anybody, and clearly Michigan and maybe USC are watching and considering doing the same.
(In response to this post by TerryD)
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SMU Pony
8mo
(In response to this post by Stech)
8mo
(In response to this post by SMU Pony)
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TerryD
8mo
ND doesn't care about the internet noise about its schedule.
That is meaningless white noise.
(In response to this post by Stech)