UC / U of L / UConn to ACC?

[bobestes]

Very good analysis.

I would add to this that you can not underestimate the role of ESPN in all of this.

The ACC is currently an ESPN-controlled property, essentially. FOX is part owner of the Big Ten network with the Big Ten. ESPN does not want to see more schools go to the Big Ten at the expense of the ACC. In fact, they'll probably re-do the contract very similar to what they did with Texas, giving them the Longhorn Network (which is nothing more than a blank check to keep the conference together)

In fact, you could go so far as to suggest that ESPN knows it's losing the Big East to FOX/CBS/ETC, and wouldn't mind it if whatever money-making schools from that conference end up in an ESPN-controlled conference. They'll just take whatever they offered the Big East, add it to the ACCs deal and call it a day.

Remember this: FSU may be the most valuable team in the ACC, but only UNC and VT have exit options to any conference in the country. Either one could petition to join just about any conference in the country and would be accepted tomorrow. The only other school that had that much power was Maryland, and they're out the door. While FSU has a definite exit option in the Big 12, NC and VT have more attractive exit options and thus have more power. While Pitt, Clemson, Virginia, and NCSU may also have exit options, they're always mentioned in combination with other schools and not alone. Thus the decision will rest with NC, VT, and FSU.

So FSU, VT, and UNC will be in a room right now deciding what to do. The rest of the ACC will vote with whatever those three schools decide, if they know what's good for them.

Right now, I hope that VT and FSU have fond memories of the Metro days with us. Or at least that they value quality athletic programs more than geographic continuity on the East Coast. But I have my doubts.

[CaptainProbasco]

Someone earlier had said that it was FSU that was strongly pushing the expansion to 16 and therefore us and Louisville.

Remember this: FSU may be the most valuable team in the ACC, but only UNC and VT have exit options to any conference in the country. Either one could petition to join just about any conference in the country and would be accepted tomorrow. The only other school that had that much power was Maryland, and they're out the door. While FSU has a definite exit option in the Big 12, NC and VT have more attractive exit options and thus have more power. While Pitt, Clemson, Virginia, and NCSU may also have exit options, they're always mentioned in combination with other schools and not alone. Thus the decision will rest with NC, VT, and FSU.

So FSU, VT, and UNC will be in a room right now deciding what to do. The rest of the ACC will vote with whatever those three schools decide, if they know what's good for them.

Right now, I hope that VT and FSU have fond memories of the Metro days with us. Or at least that they value quality athletic programs more than geographic continuity on the East Coast. But I have my doubts.

[coach]

We've now heard on another Bearcats site that one of our top 2 head coaches asked a player today how they would like to play in the ACC. Just putting that out there, now go back to letting your heads explode while trying to figure out what is going to happen like I am.

i'd put zero credibility into that. i suspect it was an outgrowth of cronin's post game comments on the radio show last night in that he said we're in the big east at least until monday when discussing "league games". it was just a figure of speech and now a lot of folks are taking it and running with it.

[bearcattom]

ACC expansion talk: Is there room for 16 teams?

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ely-per-source

"ACC presidents could vote on a Maryland replacement as early as this week, but two league sources believe an expansion to 16 is unlikely at this time.

UConn and Louisville are the favorites for the league's future 14th team. Maryland's defection to the Big Ten leaves the ACC with 13 entering the 2013 season. The league feels well-prepared for realignment talk after dealing with the additions of Pitt and Syracuse just 14 months ago, according to a source."

[OCASCM07]

We've now heard on another Bearcats site that one of our top 2 head coaches asked a player today how they would like to play in the ACC. Just putting that out there, now go back to letting your heads explode while trying to figure out what is going to happen like I am.

[Binturong05]

Very interesting read. Are we being considered for the ACC and Big 12?

http://atlanticcoastconfidential.com...ghts-16-teams/

The key takeaway from this link is that UC is firmly in the mix and near the top of the list of desireable teams to add from the Big East if the expansion to 16-team super conferences unfolds.

[longtimefan]

To this point, all of these rumors are being spread either via twitter or by bloggers or others of varying degrees of reliability. When the Rutgers and Maryland stuff was about to go down, media outlets like CBS and ESPN were all over it, none of those types of sources are reporting anything about UC going anywhere, especially not tomorrow. This does not mean that everybody is wrong about this, it just means that we will have to wait to see what happens. I hope I am wrong, but I see no real means for genuine optimism right now. However, I do think UC will eventually end up in a good place.

[jbreeds1]

Not a mention of UC in this report. Guy claims the ACC is not looking to expand to 16 teams "any time soon."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ely-per-source

[Rational Cat]

If all of this is inevitable, and it really appears something big will happen very soon, then the ACC is the best fit overall. Our history with FSU in the old Metro might help us. Both basketball and football can complete right away. Let's get it done!

Looks as if there will be room. Apparently all of the original ACC teams except VT want out, and are fleeing to what they perceive as higher ground. Admittedly, this is from a WVU site. http://www.eersauthority.com/expansi...-on-the-brink/

If this happens, the ACC becomes the old Big East (essentially) and the new Big East is the old CUSA.

[Bearcat1996]

If all of this is inevitable, and it really appears something big will happen very soon, then the ACC is the best fit overall. Our history with FSU in the old Metro might help us. Both basketball and football can complete right away. Let's get it done!

[nolte50uc]

[*]Don't be surprised if the Big 10 isn't done yet...Georgia Tech may still be in their sites (Atlanta is a huge TV market - would help the Big 10 Network)[/LIST]

yep - I try to avoid the details of all this mess, but it seems like the end game is 16-team conferences.

[Thegreatone]

UConn is not much academically.

I have to imagine the UNC/Duke blue bloods are holding their noses right now about us and the ville, but conference affiliation stopped being about academics about 5 years ago.

In the 60's in college rankings isn't bad.

[1977 BearCat]

Very interesting read. Are we being considered for the ACC and Big 12?

http://atlanticcoastconfidential.com...ghts-16-teams/

Good find. Thanks

[GoCats1994]

Count me among those that think this is the best fit moving forward. The ACC offers a bright future, is geographically a better fit (than the Big 12) and allows UC to (likely) be competitive in the league.

A couple of random thoughts that I haven't seen in this thread yet...

• Don't be surprised if the Big 10 isn't done yet...Georgia Tech may still be in their sites (Atlanta is a huge TV market - would help the Big 10 Network)
• Remember when the Big 12 nearly imploded...Who knows if Texas really is in for the long term there... Most people point to the bowl agreement between the Big 12 and the SEC as a sign of stability. Although if Texas bolts, that league could very well collapse, or at least lose a lot of its luster.

[longtimefan]

Very interesting read. Are we being considered for the ACC and Big 12?

http://atlanticcoastconfidential.com...ghts-16-teams/