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Message: [QUOTE="HtownOrange, post: 4295645, member: 622"] Before anyone burns their Orange gear or turns in their season tickets, you may want to remember a few things: 1} There is a lot of more to come 2) The B1G is now "nationwide" with a huge gap in the middle. 3) The SEC is still a regional conference. 4) The ACC GOR is still a costly item to overcome 5) UT and OU believe the GOR to be strong enough that they decided to ride out the contract. They only bargained when it became convenient to do so (i.e. the new teams wanted in and the remaining teams were willing to negotiate), it still cost them a pretty penny to walk away. 6) ND signed the ACC GOR 7) ND is contractually obligated to join the ACC if the join a conference before 2036. - Effectively, their rights belong to the ACC GOR/ESPN 8) ESPN owns the GOR rights, they also own the SEC rights. They do not own the B1G rights. It stands to reason that ESPN has a vested interest in ensuring the SEC and ACC properties remain viable (whether as separate or united remains to be determined) 9) The SEC will have to go west to become "national" 10) CFB will need at least 60-80 teams in the first tier to ensure the powers have cannon fodder. More if the middle of the pack want to remain "winners" and not lose their respective fanbases (yes, Mississippi schools and most B1G schools, I am looking at you!) 11) Syracuse is in the fourth most populous state 12)For those who wish to argue that upstate is not important, it still is roughly 9MM-10MM which makes it a "large state" in its own right and a viable market to be owned by the B1G or the SEC, should the ACC fold. 13) PSU is likely to want more eastern playmates if the B1G expands with more western teams, which is likely. PSU has never been happy as the eastern flank of the conference. Rutgers and UMD help, but adding SU, Pitt, BC with ND would benefit PSU greatly, assuming the ACC folds and SEC does not want a northeaster presence. Alternatively, the SEC may want a northeastern presence to counter the B1G because the B1G is likely to want a southeastern presence - Think GATech/Miami/FSU to the B1G. The entire east coast could be zippered ala the Coastal/Atlantic Divisions. If Pitt, SU, BC, VATech, NCState, Clemson, FSU were in the "SEC", coverage would be very good along coast. I still think PSU prefers some old rivals, but would be content with ND, UVA, GATech and a couple others. 14) It takes a majority, probably a super majority to dissolve the ACC, which means most schools must have a good landing spot. It is likely that most schools will, if not all. 15) Nothing can happen for two years as the PAC GOR does not end until then. So much for the "GOR means nothing" arguments.* *The GOR is a liquidated damages clause. Just a refresher for those who may have forgotten, liquidated damages are a contingency spelled out to address when a contract is broken but the resolution may be difficult to resolve, the parties agree before-hand how the matter will be resolved. Courts are likely to uphold liquidated damages clauses. See UT/OU and USC/UCLA. They can be negotiated, but it won't be easy for the leaving party. Applied toe the ACC, the easiest way around the GOR is to get all parties to work together, including ESPN and all 15 schools. This is probably why ND is not in a rush to make a decision, that and they really do relish their football independence. [/QUOTE]

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