Agree that many have said Stanford does not want to go to the Big 12 and may not if the ACC says no. May stay independent, at least for a few years to see if they can get into the B1G. Question for everyone - if the ACC doesn't get the 12 votes, and all 4 Pac12 schools that are left (or even 3) go to the Big12, how much hatred do the 11 ACC schools who want to expand have for FSU, Clemson & NC and how will that be manifested going forward? In other words -- is the ACC then just in hospice care waiting to expire? (Some will say they are now.) [Thanks for the comments. I'll hang up and listen.]
The internet blowhards are talking from their nether regions. ESPN has the ACC locked in for what is a real steal in hindsight. However, ESPN and the ACC both know the discrepancy cannot continue. Presently, the ACC actually has more influence over their deal than many think, specifically, the ACC is paid more than the ESPN guarantee because of ad revenue. This proves the ACC is better than most blowhards think, more than many on this site believe. Then there is the look-ins, ESPN is no fool.
ESPN has zero incentive to simply pay the ACC its true value when they have a great deal in their favor. Further, FSU can talk all they want, they cannot go anywhere unless ESPN agrees to allow FSU out of their deal. If ESPN has no incentive to pay the ACC more of its own volition, they have less to incentive to allow FSU to leave to the SEC, pay them more and devalue the ACC, and far less incentive to let FSU become a Fox property in the B1G. Especially as ESPN is the main profit center in the Disney Empire (the new Evil Empire?).
When one considers ESPN presently has 30/31 properties, much of the east coast and goes form New York to Texas, and possibly California...one may conclude ESPN has no intention of giving up anything to Fox.
Further, while every school is having back channel discussions, there cannot be substantive offers until the end of the GOR is near. Few ACC schools can afford to leave early and those that can are less likely to buy their way out. The ACC will hold for at least 10 more years unless there is a ton of cash infusion.
Then the cable to streaming transition will have progressed another decade, give or take. We will have a better idea of the value of the TV deals. The B1G, SEC, and Big12 all come up for new deals before the ACC does.
All in all, FSU cannot leave, they lack the money and a place to go, but mostly, they lack the permission of the ACC and ESPN to to leave. The remaining schools will despise FSU if they don't change turn down the rhetoric. Clemson, UNC, and NCState will face less irate opposition. Whether the ACC falls apart after the GOR remains open for debate. Still, it is hard to believe ESPN will allow properties to leave for their primary competition without making a substantive offer to keep them in the fold. Whether ESPN rolls the ACC intio the SEC, can be debated, but one cannot justify allowing profit centers to be transferred to a competitor, it lacks all business sense to do so.
