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Is the ACC doomed...

BD489

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I don’t see fsu and clemson getting out of this deal without most of its buyout. ESPN can also prove damages if they are let out for less than full amount.
 

JayM

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I think the answer is yes, ACC football is doomed. FSU, Clemson, Miami and UNC will probably land in whatever the upper division on college football becomes but the rest will be minor leaguers like Oregon State and Washington State.

It might take more than 2 years though. If they get the ESPN money regardless even if there are defections, it could be longer than that.

Basketball could be a different story. They will still have some strong basketball brands. Maybe merge with Big East for basketball.

ESPN holds all the cards though. They could decide to re-negotiate the deal with the ACC and make it more competitive with the Big Ten and SEC, but why? They have the SEC and why devalue that? It's very complicated if you ask me!
 

drumlin

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ESPN holds all the cards though.
You are correct, and you make some good points.
But left out of all of these lawsuits and discussions is player input.
Suppose the players unionize, and start collective bargaining?
One of their bargaining positions could be limiting distance traveled for conference games.
They could very well have a say in how conferences are aligned in the future.
 

JayM

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You are correct, and you make some good points.
But left out of all of these lawsuits and discussions is player input.
Suppose the players unionize, and start collective bargaining?
One of their bargaining positions could be limiting distance traveled for conference games.
They could very well have a say in how conferences are aligned in the future.
I think you are right about the players getting paid and it probably will have to be collectively bargained. But, I think this will only apply to top division of college football. I think the upper division (currently called the SEC and Big Ten) will have professional players with contracts and rest of the schools won't pay their players.

There will be a clear demarcation between the upper division and everyone else and they will probably be governed separately, have separate playoffs, etc.

I don't even know where conferences are going to fit in the future.

For that matter the SEC and Big Ten as we know it could also be "doomed" in that they might not be called that anymore. The SEC and Big Ten (and whoever else they want) could be governed by same body.

Looking farther down the road, I wonder if players in the future will even have to enroll in the school they play for. They could just be hired to play for Alabama Football Club, for example. Why just 4 years? What is eligibility? Who knows...