Interesting take by The Athletic as it pertains to the SEC expanding:
I know everyone likes to dream up scenarios where the SEC and Big Ten keep swooping up teams for the next 10-15 years, but those leagues make so much money per school now that there are only three to six programs left that would actually be additive: Notre Dame, Clemson, Florida State, perhaps Miami if it ever figures out football again, and, debatably, Oregon and Washington. If the Big Ten does eventually add those two, it will be more to give USC/UCLA partners than to increase a TV deal.
This is what I've been saying, other than Miami. The money per school has simply gotten to the point where it makes no sense to continue to expand. Especially with the GOR.
They went on to point this out:
All of which is why Bruce, Max Olson and I spent part of “The Audible” this week discussing a more radical consolidation idea former ESPN president John Skipper proposed: Merging the ACC and Pac-12 — preferably in football only. They still wouldn’t be the SEC or Big Ten in terms of TV revenue ($60-plus million), but the schools would make more than they do now (around $30 million), for several reasons: 1) The ACC would be able to blow up its outdated ESPN deal, 2) The ACC Network would add a whole lot of in-market subscriber fees in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, and 3) You’d create more high-end matchups the networks would pay for, like Oregon-Clemson or Washington-Miami.
It’s drastic, but it’s the only form of “consolidation” that really makes sense for either league if the goal is to add value, not bodies.
I kind of like this, even if I think it is unlikely:
- It's for football only ... kind of like that ... the travel for that is more manageable. All other sports would stay regional.
- The ACC/PAC would get them money between where the PAC/ACC/B12 are now and the B1G/SEC are.
- Most importantly, they would get to blow up the contract with ESPN. Oregon, Washington, FSU, and Clemson might be able to negotiate a bigger share, or better they put some sort of incentive system in place that might incent other schools - VaTech, UNC, Miami, Utah, etc. to get better, spend more, so as to get more money.
- The GOR might be able to be reduced from 2036 to something more reasonable.
Off the cuff, from a scheduling perspective, you could do something where you play 6 games against those in your region, 3 outside the region. That would help with travel (but see below).
Finally, before people bring up travel distances, consider this:
- Tuscon to Pullman - 1,333 miles
- Miami to Syracuse - 1,415 miles
- Tuscon to Atlanta - 1,737
The travel horses have already left the barn for both conferences. They are flying charter, so going coast to coast isn't a big deal ... they already travel great distances in both conferences.
