The CaneReports continues its series on the next wave of realignment. Make no mistake, the next wave is coming. This series is focused on potential scenarios for Miami and the ACC. Today, we will present another intriguing scenario. ACC schools have been contesting, in court and behind closed doors, the media rights agreement the conference schools signed. To get out of the conference, a schools must pay exorbitant exist fees through 2036. Florida State and Clemson challenged that agreement in court and had to settle for a small concession (performance bonus model). It appeared the conference schools were locked into a hopeless situation with the revenue gap widening every year. However, that may have change. The Notre Dame Model: The ACC set an important precedent with the admission of Notre Dame as a conference member in all sports except football. Because conference rules allow member schools to participate in all sports except football, it may open other member schools to do the same. Recently, the College Football Express and the College Football Mafia presented an intriguing scenario where eight ACC schools could opt to breakaway from the ACC in football but remain a member in all other conference sports. Those schools included Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State and Virginia Tech. These eight schools have the highest football TV ratings in the ACC conference. These eight schools would operate as football independents, the same as Notre Dame. They could negotiate a scheduling agreement with the remaining ACC to help fill their schedules. And these eight schools would also avoid the ACC exist fees. Finally, these eight schools could bring Notre Dame into a strategic scheduling alliance. The Irish could get up to eight games a year in such an agreement, leaving the Irish four games with other conferences/schools across the country. The College Football Express and the College Football Mafia estimate this could result in almost $100M per year per school. Problem solved! Could this actually take place? YES! The alternative is not good for the ACC. If the ACC balks at this new tier model, the eight schools could breakaway entirely and form a new conference. It take 50% of the member schools to vote to disband the ACC. They would have the votes. With the inclusion of Notre Dame and possibly one additional school (SMU?), you would have a valuable package to offer to a prospective media partner like NBC/Peacock in 2036. GO CANES!
