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Message: [QUOTE="Nahson, post: 5465730, member: 1096"] Never mind I asked Googles Gemini and got a great answer… I don’t need you losers (Jking I love u) The ACC is indeed facing significant challenges to its long-term stability, particularly as its current media rights contract with ESPN extends to 2036, putting it at a substantial financial disadvantage compared to the SEC and Big Ten. Recent legal settlements with Clemson and Florida State have made it easier for schools to potentially leave the conference in the future by reducing exit fees, which further highlights the instability. Here are the best options to elevate and secure the ACC's future: 1. Maximize Revenue through Innovative Distribution and Performance Incentives Unequal Revenue Sharing: This is arguably the most crucial step. The ACC has already begun to implement a new revenue distribution model that provides a "brand" fund and rewards schools based on viewership numbers and competitive success in football and men's and women's basketball. This addresses the concerns of top programs like Clemson and Florida State, who generate the most revenue for the conference but felt undervalued under the previous equal distribution model. Continuing to refine and expand this model is essential to incentivize high performance and retain top brands. Explore New Revenue Streams: The ACC needs to be aggressive in finding additional ways to generate income beyond its current ESPN deal. This could include: Strategic Partnerships: Seeking out additional corporate sponsors for various conference events and initiatives. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Offerings: While challenging for a single conference, exploring niche content or exclusive access through a DTC platform could be a long-term goal. International Reach: Leveraging the global appeal of some of its brands (e.g., North Carolina basketball, Florida State football) to attract international viewership and sponsorships. Negotiate a Stronger Media Deal (when possible): While the current deal runs until 2036, any opportunities to revisit or renegotiate aspects of the contract that could increase payouts should be pursued aggressively. The current deal is significantly below market value compared to the Big Ten and SEC. 2. Leverage the Notre Dame Relationship More Effectively Notre Dame's unique independent status in football, coupled with its full ACC membership in other sports, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the ACC. Increased Football Integration (the "mortgage" aspect): More Marquee Matchups: The ACC is already looking to ensure its top football brands (Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina) play Notre Dame more often. This creates more valuable television inventory and boosts the ACC's overall football perception. Incentivize Full Membership: While difficult, the ACC should continue to explore ways to incentivize Notre Dame to become a full football member. This would bring their significant media value and national brand fully under the ACC umbrella. This could involve offering Notre Dame a highly favorable revenue share, or even a structure that allows them to maintain a degree of scheduling flexibility. The current landscape, with the expanded College Football Playoff, might make full conference membership more appealing to Notre Dame in the long run to guarantee a path to the playoffs without relying on at-large bids that could be impacted by a weaker strength of schedule as an independent. Bowl Game Tie-ins: Ensure that Notre Dame's continued relationship strengthens the ACC's overall bowl tie-ins and playoff access, potentially by linking their performance to the conference's automatic bids or higher-tier bowl slots. Amplify Non-Football Sports: While football drives the most revenue, Notre Dame's presence in ACC basketball and other Olympic sports adds significant value to the ACC Network and the conference's overall athletic prestige. Promoting these matchups and highlighting their competitive success can add value. 3. Strengthen the Conference's Brand and Competitive Standing Consistent On-Field Success: Ultimately, winning drives revenue and prestige. The ACC needs its top football and basketball programs to consistently compete for national championships. This means investing in coaching, facilities, and NIL opportunities to attract and retain elite talent. Strategic Expansion (if necessary and beneficial): While the ACC recently added Cal, Stanford, and SMU, any future expansion should be strategic, focusing on schools that bring significant media value, new geographic markets, or strong academic profiles that align with the ACC's identity. However, with the current contract through 2036, significant expansion may not be the immediate solution for revenue issues. Maintain Academic & Cultural Identity: The ACC has historically prided itself on a balance of strong academics and competitive athletics. Maintaining this identity can be a differentiator from other conferences and appeal to certain institutions and fan bases. 4. Advocate for National College Athletics Reform Federal Legislation for NIL: Commissioner Jim Phillips has emphasized the need for federal legislation to create a uniform and stable framework for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) across the country. This would level the playing field and reduce state-by-state discrepancies that can put conferences at a disadvantage. NCAA Governance Reform: The ACC, alongside other conferences, needs to be actively involved in discussions about the future of NCAA governance, ensuring that any new models support broad-based programming and the student-athlete experience while addressing the financial realities of modern college sports. The ACC is in a challenging position, but by focusing on maximizing its existing assets, innovating its revenue model, strategically leveraging its relationship with Notre Dame, and advocating for broader systemic change in college athletics, it can work towards a more secure and competitive future. The recent settlement with Clemson and Florida State, while highlighting instability, also provides a pathway for the ACC to adapt its revenue distribution to better align with performance and viewership. The period leading up to 2036 will be critical for the ACC to demonstrate its value and position itself for a more lucrative future media deal. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?