ACC/PAC Merger Idea

[Orangefizz]

Here are my thoughts for a way for the ACC and PAC conferences to come together to challenge the Big Ten and SEC. In order for this to happen, Notre Dame would have to join as a full member. In this scenario ESPN would guarantee Notre Dame the same annual payout as the SEC and there would be a tiered payout structure for everyone else based on performance on the field. The conference structure would be like the original Big East, ACC and PAC conferences to take advantage of historic rivalries.

I feel the ACC has to be ultra aggressive if they ever want to be on similar footing with the other two conferences.

ACC/PAC
Notre Dame
UConn
Boston College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Virginia
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
NC State
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Florida St

Arizona
Arizona St
Stanford
California
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Colorado

 

[baggerbob]

Here are my thoughts for a way for the ACC and PAC conferences to come together to challenge the Big Ten and SEC. In order for this to happen, Notre Dame would have to join as a full member. In this scenario ESPN would guarantee Notre Dame the same annual payout as the SEC and there would be a tiered payout structure for everyone else based on performance on the field. The conference structure would be like the original, Big East, ACC and PAC conferences. I feel the ACC has to be ultra aggressive if they ever want to be on similar footing with the other two conferences.

ACC/PAC
Notre Dame
Connecticut
Boston College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Virginia
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
NC State
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Florida St

Arizona
Arizona St
Stanford
California
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Colorado

Actually that would be a good conference, with good divisions.
Old Big East, ACC, and Pac 10, have all time zones covered.
And Notre Dame could play Stanford every year.

 

[sufandu]

That would be intriguing. I'd like it. Find a way to add WVU and it would be even better. Would Miami be down with that division split? It seems like they'd be traveling more than anyone else.

 

[Orangefizz]

That would be intriguing. I'd like it. Find a way to add WVU and it would be even better. Would Miami be down with that division split? It seems like they'd be traveling more than anyone else.

Miami is really like a northern school. Their largest undergraduate recruiting outside of Florida comes from the Northeast.

 

[Cusester]

Dump UConn and add the hillbillies and we’re good.

 

[djorange1989]

It’s great but no way ND would do it. But a great idea nonetheless

 

[Chris02M]

Only way ND would consider is financial and its a long shot at best for the next several years. I also dont see us double dipping in new england with uconn

 

[Toga]

Irish fans in
3 .. 2 ... 1

 

[WoadBlue]

Here are my thoughts for a way for the ACC and PAC conferences to come together to challenge the Big Ten and SEC. In order for this to happen, Notre Dame would have to join as a full member. In this scenario ESPN would guarantee Notre Dame the same annual payout as the SEC and there would be a tiered payout structure for everyone else based on performance on the field. The conference structure would be like the original, Big East, ACC and PAC conferences. I feel the ACC has to be ultra aggressive if they ever want to be on similar footing with the other two conferences.

ACC/PAC
Notre Dame
Connecticut
Boston College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Virginia
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
NC State
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Florida St

Arizona
Arizona St
Stanford
California
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Colorado

Why would anyone want UConn?

The problems with the Pac start with the fact that Colorado is huge dud - being the very bottom or next to bottom of the Pac in TV viewers for basketball and ranging from 9-12 in football TV viewers. If you are trying to secure the 8 best of the Pac 10 in terms of TV viewers drawn to their games, Colorado aint going to make it. In fact only 7 Pac schools have enough combined football and basketball TV viewers to matter: Oregon, Washington, Cal, Stanford, Utah, Arizona, Arizona St.

If you could get that 7, then you have 21 football members play ND as a football partial.

 

[Toga]

Why would anyone want UConn?

The problems with the Pac start with the fact that Colorado is huge dud - being the very bottom or next to bottom of the Pac in TV viewers for basketball and ranging from 9-12 in football TV viewers. If you are trying to secure the 8 best of the Pac 10 in terms of TV viewers drawn to their games, Colorado aint going to make it. In fact only 7 Pac schools have enough combined football and basketball TV viewers to matter: Oregon, Washington, Cal, Stanford, Utah, Arizona, Arizona St.

If you could get that 7, then you have 21 football members play ND as a football partial.

And maybe not Cal but I get having a partner for Stanford.

 

[sufandu]

Dump UConn and add the hillbillies and we’re good.

I thought that too, but it would be nice having a real basketball rival again.

 

[sufandu]

Why would anyone want UConn?

The problems with the Pac start with the fact that Colorado is huge dud - being the very bottom or next to bottom of the Pac in TV viewers for basketball and ranging from 9-12 in football TV viewers. If you are trying to secure the 8 best of the Pac 10 in terms of TV viewers drawn to their games, Colorado aint going to make it. In fact only 7 Pac schools have enough combined football and basketball TV viewers to matter: Oregon, Washington, Cal, Stanford, Utah, Arizona, Arizona St.

If you could get that 7, then you have 21 football members play ND as a football partial.

Well, they're a genuine rival for us in basketball. WVU would be a better rival for football.

 

[Orangefizz]

It’s great but no way ND would do it. But a great idea nonetheless

If Notre Dame was ever going to join a conference, this would be a great idea for them, as well as the merged ACC/PAC conference. As long as ESPN guarantees them the same payout as the SEC schools, Notre Dame would have a much easier chance to annually be in the college football playoffs and a bi-coastal schedule would appeal to their national alumni base

 

[Orangefizz]

Let’s be realistic. I would also want West Virginia over Yukon, but West Virginia just signed a new grant in rights deal with the big 12 while UConn is a football independent.

Actually, if the ACC could convince Notre Dame to join, they could select any member they like (Navy)

 

[Orangefizz]

Why would anyone want UConn?

The problems with the Pac start with the fact that Colorado is huge dud - being the very bottom or next to bottom of the Pac in TV viewers for basketball and ranging from 9-12 in football TV viewers. If you are trying to secure the 8 best of the Pac 10 in terms of TV viewers drawn to their games, Colorado aint going to make it. In fact only 7 Pac schools have enough combined football and basketball TV viewers to matter: Oregon, Washington, Cal, Stanford, Utah, Arizona, Arizona St.

If you could get that 7, then you have 21 football members play ND as a football partial.

I love that idea because it doesn’t involve Notre Dame joining full-time so they can keep their independence. With a 21 team conference it would be great if Notre Dame could play 7 conference games per year so they can rotate through all the members in three years.

 

[Hoo's That]

Let’s be realistic. I would also want West Virginia over Yukon, but West Virginia just signed a new grant in rights deal with the big 12 while UConn is a football independent.

Actually, if the ACC could convince Notre Dame to join, they could select any member they like (Navy)

Don't need a 16th school now that you can use 2-6-6 scheduling and have a championship game. The 16th was needed to make pods that could be combined into rotating divisions.

 

[RCDICK44]

Don't need a 16th school now that you can use 2-6-6 scheduling and have a championship game. The 16th was needed to make pods that could be combined into rotating divisions.

I love that idea because it doesn’t involve Notre Dame joining full-time so they can keep their independence. With a 21 team conference it would be great if Notre Dame could play 7 conference games per year so they can rotate through all the members in three years.

I am getting awful tired of everybody kissing Notre Dames butt.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Here are my thoughts for a way for the ACC and PAC conferences to come together to challenge the Big Ten and SEC. In order for this to happen, Notre Dame would have to join as a full member. In this scenario ESPN would guarantee Notre Dame the same annual payout as the SEC and there would be a tiered payout structure for everyone else based on performance on the field. The conference structure would be like the original Big East, ACC and PAC conferences to take advantage of historic rivalries.

I feel the ACC has to be ultra aggressive if they ever want to be on similar footing with the other two conferences.

ACC/PAC
Notre Dame
UConn
Boston College
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Miami

Virginia
North Carolina
Duke
Wake Forest
NC State
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Florida St

Arizona
Arizona St
Stanford
California
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Colorado

Not a chance.

First, that is three conferences under one name. That does nothing for the networks. It is three regional conferences with little to no inter regional matchups. Which is also a reason for Notre Dame to NOT want this. They want a national schedule and this restricts them.

Second, why would Miami and VA Tech want to give up the Southern ACC teams?

Third, one of the issues for the ACC/P10 is small fanbases and redundant markets. If you are starting a new/merged conference then you have to leave out Wake and Cal.

Fourth, you are better off taking the best assets from the ACC/P10 AND the B12. This hypothetical conference wouldn't start in 2023 so you can grab the best B12 teams in 2028 when the conference starts. Having 4 teams in each of the North, South, East, and West would have the best chance.

Fifth, show me the money. While what you propose makes sense for ND, it doesn't for the rest of the schools. Why would the schools on the B16/SEC radar not eventually leave anyway? They would make a good amount more in the B16/SEC and it would be guaranteed money vs merit based which could fluctuate. For this to truly work ND would need to be close to the B16/SEC (~90%) and the rest of the schools would have to not be B16/SEC targets while also getting more money than they currently do. Good luck getting a network to pay leftovers over $30M per year each.

If you were to create a "Notre Dame Conference" IMO the below would be the best bet. That being said, it wouldn't survive B16/SEC raid attempts.

Northeast- Notre Dame, Pitt, VA Tech, Miami
Southeast- FSU, GA Tech, Clemson, UNC
Southwest- Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor, Arizona State
Northwest- Washington, Oregon, Stanford, BYU

Notre Dame would still play USC, Navy, and one other OOC game yearly. So over a 4 year span they are in Florida 3x, California 3x, Texas 2x.

 

[SU68]

That would be intriguing. I'd like it. Find a way to add WVU and it would be even better. Would Miami be down with that division split? It seems like they'd be traveling more than anyone else.

That's easy. Plug WVU into the UConn slot. They shouldn't be at the big boy table anyway.

 

[BlazeOrange]

If you were to create a "Notre Dame Conference" IMO the below would be the best bet. That being said, it wouldn't survive B16/SEC raid attempts.

I'd be interested in seeing what a "Notre Dame Conference" would look like with NO restrictions (they could pull in SEC/B1G schools). Any Irish visitors care to take a stab at a 16-24 or so conference that would be acceptable to the ND fanbase?

 

[Hoo's That]

I am getting awful tired of everybody kissing Notre Dames butt.

They do what they do because they can. They'll continue to do it until it's demonstrated that people won't come to see them play. Back in the Day, Disney used to have a "pre-season" game in the Meadowlands that was the 12th game for the participants when only 11 games were allowed. The only one of those games that ever sold out was when UVa played ND, and I can guarantee they weren't streaming into the stadium because we were playing in that game.

 

[WoadBlue]

Well, they're a genuine rival for us in basketball. WVU would be a better rival for football.

Football being at least 4 times more valuable than basketball means a great deal. Specifically it means that UConn has no real value.

 

[WoadBlue]

Not a chance.

First, that is three conferences under one name. That does nothing for the networks. It is three regional conferences with little to no inter regional matchups. Which is also a reason for Notre Dame to NOT want this. They want a national schedule and this restricts them.

Second, why would Miami and VA Tech want to give up the Southern ACC teams?

Third, one of the issues for the ACC/P10 is small fanbases and redundant markets. If you are starting a new/merged conference then you have to leave out Wake and Cal.

Fourth, you are better off taking the best assets from the ACC/P10 AND the B12. This hypothetical conference wouldn't start in 2023 so you can grab the best B12 teams in 2028 when the conference starts. Having 4 teams in each of the North, South, East, and West would have the best chance.

Fifth, show me the money. While what you propose makes sense for ND, it doesn't for the rest of the schools. Why would the schools on the B16/SEC radar not eventually leave anyway? They would make a good amount more in the B16/SEC and it would be guaranteed money vs merit based which could fluctuate. For this to truly work ND would need to be close to the B16/SEC (~90%) and the rest of the schools would have to not be B16/SEC targets while also getting more money than they currently do. Good luck getting a network to pay leftovers over $30M per year each.

If you were to create a "Notre Dame Conference" IMO the below would be the best bet. That being said, it wouldn't survive B16/SEC raid attempts.

Northeast- Notre Dame, Pitt, VA Tech, Miami
Southeast- FSU, GA Tech, Clemson, UNC
Southwest- Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor, Arizona State
Northwest- Washington, Oregon, Stanford, BYU

Notre Dame would still play USC, Navy, and one other OOC game yearly. So over a 4 year span they are in Florida 3x, California 3x, Texas 2x.

Wake being left out makes sense. Cal does not. Cal has many problems in this world of Major Conference sports, but it still is Cal. Of the Pac, the obvious schools to leave out are Washington St, Oregon, ST, and Colorado, in that order.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Wake being left out makes sense. Cal does not. Cal has many problems in this world of Major Conference sports, but it still is Cal. Of the Pac, the obvious schools to leave out are Washington St, Oregon, ST, and Colorado, in that order.

Cal brings nothing

 

[WoadBlue]

I love that idea because it doesn’t involve Notre Dame joining full-time so they can keep their independence. With a 21 team conference it would be great if Notre Dame could play 7 conference games per year so they can rotate through all the members in three years.

Yep. ND isn going to want that football claim to independence, and that means a 21 team ACC and pac meter of some type could work very well, with 7 Pac and then 14 in EST (s well as ND). Then once Pac schools would have 6 football games per year against each other. which would keep them grounded inn their how area, but then also play a bunch of games against the ACC-East, and all Pac teams need to play teams from the east to secure larger audiences.

And making that big type move is when the ACC would make sense to drop Wake and BC, and replace with WVU and probably Cincinnati.

That 21 member ACC-Pac, plus ND as part time for football, would not make as much money as BT or SEC but would get reasonably close, and have all kinds of top teams in both revenue sports.

It is much better to try that than to just accept ESAPN squeezing the ACC to death so the SEC can take what it wants and the BT can get what it can take.