Sources: ESPN OK's option to televise ACC sports through '36

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[javadoc]

So FSU is going to get more money just because of their name? Why not make them a partial member like stupid ND.

 

[cuse62]

Sounds like the ACC is trying to help fsu pay for their lawsuit. I wouldn’t pay them an extra dime.

 

[DoctorBombay]

So FSU is going to get more money just because of their name? Why not make them a partial member like stupid ND.

Hate those Seminole basturds...but the revenue model would probably include broadcast ratings, overall record, etc., and not just for their "name".
If we start winning and playing meaningful games, we'd benefit just as much. JMHO

Check that: Just reread the item from Adelson, and you're right. If they get bigger bucks just for their "brand" that would absolutely be messed up. If it's performance based, that's another story.

 

[sutomcat]

Hopefully the new distribution will be more based on merit in terms of accomplishments on the field than on the inflated egos of the bonehards from Tallahassee ()and possibly elsewhere).

It will be interesting to see if ESPN did anything to increase payments as part of this. Given what happened in 2024 for football, and what has been happening the last couple of years for basketball, I doubt it.

 

[baggerbob]

Hopefully the new distribution will be more based on merit in terms of accomplishments on the field than on the inflated egos of the bonehards from Tallahassee ()and possibly elsewhere).

It will be interesting to see if ESPN did anything to increase payments as part of this. Given what happened in 2024 for football, and what has been happening the last couple of years for basketball, I doubt it.

If they picked up the rights then, they better do something to keep the
schools closer to the SEC and BIG or the schools might vote to dissolve the conference.
They can't expect the schools to continue to get farther behind.

 

[HtownOrange]

If they picked up the rights then, they better do something to keep the
schools closer to the SEC and BIG or the schools might vote to dissolve the conference.
They can't expect the schools to continue to get farther behind.

Assuming the rumor of the extension is correct, if the ACC does not produce enough revenue in 2036 to be near to the SEC and B1G, all teams can leave without penalty, see PAC-12. It is up to the individual teams to prove their worth between now and then. No school can leave now, they cannot afford to do so (except UVA, UNC, and maybe one or two others), as has been outlined many times on this site and elsewhere. Nor is it cost effective to do so.

Yes, ESPN has the ACC under agreements that favor ESPN, but the ACC teams individually agreed to the terms, as bad as they are in hindsight.

There can be no dissolution of the conference as the individual schools have committed those rights to the ACC and the ACC in turn committed the same rights to ESPN, thus even if a dissolution could be managed, the rights still belong to the ACC/ESPN, meaning that the rights to each ACC team are useless to any gaining conference unless they are purchased back by the individual team. See above, FSU and Clemson cannot afford to buy back their rights. Simply, ESPN "owns" each ACC team through 2036.

The best thing for SU to do is to get better at football and basketball. Improving the academic reputation and increasing research will also make SU more attractive. While I am not convinced ESPN is in any hurry to create a super league because it leaves too much money on the table and they already own two conferences that produce a lot of profit for them. However, even if ESPN's goal is a super conference, the only thig for SU to do is to make themselves much more attractive; thus the solution is the same regardless of the long play.

 

[MikeSU02]

Assuming the rumor of the extension is correct, if the ACC does not produce enough revenue in 2036 to be near to the SEC and B1G, all teams can leave without penalty, see PAC-12. It is up to the individual teams to prove their worth between now and then. No school can leave now, they cannot afford to do so (except UVA, UNC, and maybe one or two others), as has been outlined many times on this site and elsewhere. Nor is it cost effective to do so.

Yes, ESPN has the ACC under agreements that favor ESPN, but the ACC teams individually agreed to the terms, as bad as they are in hindsight.

There can be no dissolution of the conference as the individual schools have committed those rights to the ACC and the ACC in turn committed the same rights to ESPN, thus even if a dissolution could be managed, the rights still belong to the ACC/ESPN, meaning that the rights to each ACC team are useless to any gaining conference unless they are purchased back by the individual team. See above, FSU and Clemson cannot afford to buy back their rights. Simply, ESPN "owns" each ACC team through 2036.

The best thing for SU to do is to get better at football and basketball. Improving the academic reputation and increasing research will also make SU more attractive. While I am not convinced ESPN is in any hurry to create a super league because it leaves too much money on the table and they already own two conferences that produce a lot of profit for them. However, even if ESPN's goal is a super conference, the only thig for SU to do is to make themselves much more attractive; thus the solution is the same regardless of the long play.

You've been an ongoing voice of reason throughout all of this. Big shout to you, sir.

 

[DPCuse]

Just read the other day that Ohio State athletics operated at a $37.7M deficit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. And now they are planning to pay their athletes $20+M a year. Grass isn't always greener Clemson and FSU.

 

[Scooch]

FSU and Clemson are looking for reduced penalties if they leave as early as 2031. That’s when the other conference’s TV deals are up.

I have a hunch they’ll get that concession. It gives the league membership 5-7 years to plan their future. Because it’s inevitable that at least a handful of ACC schools are going to leave for the B1G and/or SEC.

I’ll just keep repeating that the left-behinds of the ACC (which will likely include us) should start overtures to the Big 12 soon-ish. We’ll need to form the 3rd best conference behind the Power 2.

 

[AcAndAc]

So FSU is going to get more money just because of their name? Why not make them a partial member like stupid ND.

The reality is that people will watch them on TV just to root for them to lose. Like Notre Dame. We might have had that for basketball, but we have never had that for football. And given that football drives the revenue, it is worth it for FSU/Clemson to make a little bit more than us.

The best news is that the SEC does not gain any markets by taking FSU/Clemson. However, they would have some interest in UNC, Duke, and Virginia. The question is 4th team to add to add value. Maybe they could try to get Kansas or Virginia Tech. Adding Kansas would turn the SEC into a dominant basketball conference in terms of play on the court and brands... while not taking anything away from football other than giving a lot of victories to the current schools.

The B1G covets those three schools also. But they could add Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami to get new markets.

If those schools leave, we are down to us, Pitt, BC, NC State, Wake Forest, Louisville, SMU, Stanford, Va Tech, and Cal. Notre Dame for all but football. And even that would probably result in Notre Dame dropping down to 3 games per year for football. Not sure whether we would be above the B12.

Maybe add a few teams, merge with B12 and divide three sections of a 30-team ACC conference with ESPN giving us just enough money to stay in D1:

East: Syracuse, Pitt, BC, WVU, Cincinnati, UConn (add), Va Tech, Louisville, NC State, Wake Forest
West: Stanford, Cal, Arizona, ASU, BYU, Utah, Colorado, Boise St. (add), OSU (add), WSU (add)
South: SMU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU, Okie St., UCF, Kansas State, Iowa St., Memphis or Tulane (add)

Pretty meh. Probably need a four-team playoff to determine a champion to get the ONE playoff bid.
So, all things considered, letting the brands keep some more money to keep the ACC intact probably makes more sense.

 

[Scooch]

The reality is that people will watch them on TV just to root for them to lose. Like Notre Dame. We might have had that for basketball, but we have never had that for football. And given that football drives the revenue, it is worth it for FSU/Clemson to make a little bit more than us.

The best news is that the SEC does not gain any markets by taking FSU/Clemson. However, they would have some interest in UNC, Duke, and Virginia. The question is 4th team to add to add value. Maybe they could try to get Kansas or Virginia Tech. Adding Kansas would turn the SEC into a dominant basketball conference in terms of play on the court and brands... while not taking anything away from football other than giving a lot of victories to the current schools.

The B1G covets those three schools also. But they could add Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami to get new markets.

If those schools leave, we are down to us, Pitt, BC, NC State, Wake Forest, Louisville, SMU, Stanford, Va Tech, and Cal. Notre Dame for all but football. And even that would probably result in Notre Dame dropping down to 3 games per year for football. Not sure whether we would be above the B12.

Maybe add a few teams, merge with B12 and divide three sections of a 30-team ACC conference with ESPN giving us just enough money to stay in D1:

East: Syracuse, Pitt, BC, WVU, Cincinnati, UConn (add), Va Tech, Louisville, NC State, Wake Forest
West: Stanford, Cal, Arizona, ASU, BYU, Utah, Colorado, Boise St. (add), OSU (add), WSU (add)
South: SMU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU, Okie St., UCF, Kansas State, Iowa St., Memphis or Tulane (add)

Pretty meh. Probably need a four-team playoff to determine a champion to get the ONE playoff bid.
So, all things considered, letting the brands keep some more money to keep the ACC intact probably makes more sense.

I’m not sure that markets will matter much by 2031. The revenue from conference cable networks is dwindling, and will be somewhat paltry 7 years from now.

The key for conferences going forward is brand power and fan base size. That is what will drive streaming subscriptions and large viewing audiences (which means more ad sales revenue).

My hunch is that there are 6-8 ACC teams that will be gobbled up immediately by the power 2 as soon as they’re available. And some may be in “redundant” markets.

 

[Toga]

So let's assume the contract revenue remains steady to the current numbers. Supposedly future contracts with conferences will be less (or different with streaming). If so, doesn't that make the ACC significantly more attractive to Big 12 teams whose contract expired circa 2030?

 

[oldpinepoint]

In Fran we trust, we need to be consistently good to great in football. Hoops in general is trending down so we need to be good here which we are far from.

 

[kcsu]

This is good news for SU. We remain in a solid third spot and relevant on a national basis. I believe that by 2031 or sooner Congress will get involved and there will be a collective bargaining agreement for men's football and basketball and that the ACC and SU will be included. SU should have a place at the final table based on being in the East and specifically in NYS. Time is on our side and this buys time.

 

[baggerbob]

FSU and Clemson are looking for reduced penalties if they leave as early as 2031. That’s when the other conference’s TV deals are up.

I have a hunch they’ll get that concession. It gives the league membership 5-7 years to plan their future. Because it’s inevitable that at least a handful of ACC schools are going to leave for the B1G and/or SEC.

I’ll just keep repeating that the left-behinds of the ACC (which will likely include us) should start overtures to the Big 12 soon-ish. We’ll need to form the 3rd best conference behind the Power 2.

And if the rumor is true then a change in basketball needs to happen after this year unless Red does something drastic like make the NCAA tournament.
There is no more time to wait to get things right.
We need Football and Basketball to be in the top 4 for revenue sharing and TV ratings.
That means winning games against the best teams, not being close.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I’m not sure that markets will matter much by 2031. The revenue from conference cable networks is dwindling, and will be somewhat paltry 7 years from now.

The key for conferences going forward is brand power and fan base size. That is what will drive streaming subscriptions and large viewing audiences (which means more ad sales revenue).

My hunch is that there are 6-8 ACC teams that will be gobbled up immediately by the power 2 as soon as they’re available. And some may be in “redundant” markets.

Is there any way our brand power and fan base size can grow substantially to make a difference in your opinion? Say football continues to do well...and basketball recovers. Does it even matter? Or is it about just playing for the third major conference no matter what.

I suspect it's the latter given where the school has pushed and focused on but curious your take.

 

[Scooch]

Is there any way our brand power and fan base size can grow substantially to make a difference in your opinion? Say football continues to do well...and basketball recovers. Does it even matter? Or is it about just playing for the third major conference no matter what.

I suspect it's the latter given where the school has pushed and focused on but curious your take.

I do think we're an attractive candidate for the B1G *if* they see value in expanding in the northeast beyond Penn State.

Our football resurgence this past season showed our potential if we could sustain it and become a consistent top 25 program. 20+ years ago SU was the third most popular college football program in the northeast, behind Penn State and Notre Dame. That's based on actual data.

However, I suspect that the B1G has their eyes primarily on UNC and UVA. And secondarily on Duke, GaTech and Miami if they want to go big. My hunch is that we're pretty far back in the pecking order of ACC schools the B1G is interested in.

Since the SEC won't come knocking, I think our most likely landing spot is a nationalized B12. But that's just conjecture from me. Our brand is valuable, just maybe not enough.

 

[Toga]

I do think we're an attractive candidate for the B1G *if* they see value in expanding in the northeast beyond Penn State.

Our football resurgence this past season showed our potential if we could sustain it and become a consistent top 25 program. 20+ years ago SU was the third most popular college football program in the northeast, behind Penn State and Notre Dame. That's based on actual data.

However, I suspect that the B1G has their eyes primarily on UNC and UVA. And secondarily on Duke, GaTech and Miami if they want to go big. My hunch is that we're pretty far back in the pecking order of ACC schools the B1G is interested in.

Since the SEC won't come knocking, I think our most likely landing spot is a nationalized B12. But that's just conjecture from me. Our brand is valuable, just maybe not enough.

As long as a nationalized B12 has paths to national titles, that wouldn't be optimal but would be acceptable.

 

[upperdeck]

not to get political. But some of the things going on are going to cause many colleges to be in trouble pretty fast if they happen.

 

[Toga]

not to get political. But some of the things going on are going to cause many colleges to be in trouble pretty fast if they happen.

 

[HtownOrange]

Sources: ESPN set to televise ACC through 2036

ESPN has agreed to pick up its option to broadcast ACC sports through 2036, sources told ESPN. The decision comes as the ACC works toward settling lawsuits by Clemson and Florida State.

www.espn.in

Straight from the horse's mouth, ESPN posted the story above.

Many details are not included in the story, such as the result and valuation of the look-in, or specifically what ESPN will pay going forward (this is the ACCN contract). Yet is is nice to shut down the Big 12 mouth pieces who have never put thought of anything.

There is an indication that the top earners in the ACC will be close t o the revenue of the B1G, which remains to be seen.

 

[HtownOrange]

not to get political. But some of the things going on are going to cause many colleges to be in trouble pretty fast if they happen.

I think it is less left v. right politics which will force the issues, most Americans favor fiscal controls over government spending. I think it will be the analysis of the reckless spending on athletics - and other non-school mission oriented programs and activities - when the schools must enter into proper fiscal management.

Twenty-seven states run in the red, the debt keeps mounting, the unending unsupervised spending by state institutions is likely to end soon, probably before 2036.

Most D-1 athletic departments run in the red. There are less students available to attend the present colleges and universities, combined with the need for blue collar work (re-industrialization of the country) and other skilled labor (the baby boomers are aging out of the work force). Revenues from enrollment will decrease and with the states likely to fund less at universities, especially those not properly managing expenditures, cuts will have to come from somewhere Whether anyone likes it or not, scaling back on expenses and focusing on revenue generating, as opposed to revenue consuming, endeavors will force closer scrutiny of each school.

Private universities hold this advantage over state institutions in that the Private Universities must manage their resources in a fiscal manner. Thanks to the SU BoT for managing the AD properly.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I’m not sure that markets will matter much by 2031. The revenue from conference cable networks is dwindling, and will be somewhat paltry 7 years from now.

The key for conferences going forward is brand power and fan base size. That is what will drive streaming subscriptions and large viewing audiences (which means more ad sales revenue).

My hunch is that there are 6-8 ACC teams that will be gobbled up immediately by the power 2 as soon as they’re available. And some may be in “redundant” markets.

While from a "business consolidation" perspective this makes a ton of sense, how in the world is the NCAA going to sell a 2 conference duopoly as a national championship? I just don't see it.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I think it is less left v. right politics which will force the issues, most Americans favor fiscal controls over government spending. I think it will be the analysis of the reckless spending on athletics - and other non-school mission oriented programs and activities - when the schools must enter into proper fiscal management.

Twenty-seven states run in the red, the debt keeps mounting, the unending unsupervised spending by state institutions is likely to end soon, probably before 2036.

Most D-1 athletic departments run in the red. There are less students available to attend the present colleges and universities, combined with the need for blue collar work (re-industrialization of the country) and other skilled labor (the baby boomers are aging out of the work force). Revenues from enrollment will decrease and with the states likely to fund less at universities, especially those not properly managing expenditures, cuts will have to come from somewhere Whether anyone likes it or not, scaling back on expenses and focusing on revenue generating, as opposed to revenue consuming, endeavors will force closer scrutiny of each school.

Private universities hold this advantage over state institutions in that the Private Universities must manage their resources in a fiscal manner. Thanks to the SU BoT for managing the AD properly.

Agree. When you look at which states are net givers vs net receivers of federal funds, you’re going to see a shakeout if spending goes down.