EDITORIAL
By TexCane
As we turn the page to 2025, let’s examine the situation with the Atlantic Coast Conference going into the new year from the perspective of the commissioner, Jim Phillips.
The conference is in a continuing battle to remain a power conference. It could be Phillips is fighting a losing battle unless bold, creative and innovative moves are taken in 2025.
The trigger milestone comes in February when ESPN decides to extend their media rights deal with the ACC through 2036. We should ASSUME ESPN is going to take that option.
“Keep your friend close and your enemies closer.”
That decision will set the stage for those bold and innovative strategic moves we mentioned above.
First, let’s look at the current status of the ACC.
The ACC schools are fighting a financial war with the SEC and Big Ten conferences. They are losing badly. The revenue gap will continue to grow in the years, thus relegating the conference to a secondary conference.
The ACC schools are fighting a recruiting battle with the SEC and Big Ten conferences. Because of the growing revenue gap, ACC schools will not be able to compete with the “Power Two” on the recruiting trail. ACC recruiting budgets will be a fraction of the SEC and Big Ten. The Super Two will win the vast majority of recruiting battles against the ACC and Big12.
It’s already happening.
The ACC Schools are fighting bias by media and national networks. The media power brokers are winning by negative spinning anything not SEC or Big Ten.
The ACC Schools are fighting amongst themselves (ACC). FSU and Clemson want a bigger slice of the pie and threatening to leave the conference.
The future of the ACC is in doubt.
How can the ACC flip the national narrative surrounding conference?
They say… "If you continue to do the same thing, you should expect to get the same result.”
If I were the conference commissioner, I would immediately take a bold leadership position and execute the following actions.
The Mega Conference…
STEP A: Give Notre Dame an ultimatum…
Invite the Irish to join the conference as a full member. If the Irish again turn down the invitation, terminate the current football scheduling agreement between the ACC and South Bend.
STEP B: Merge with the Big12
Currently, the ACC has seventeen full member schools and the Big12 has sixteen members. That’s 33 schools not counting Notre Dame. Strength in numbers.
More later.
STEP C: Form a new “Mega Conference”
Disolve the ACC and Big12. Form a new conference by quickly expand to 48 schools, hopefully with Notre Dame included. Again, strength in numbers. This step would require the new conference to add 6-7 new member schools. That means raiding other conferences. Establish a new conference headquarters in a new location. Perhaps Chicago? This will aid in establishing a new culture for the Mega Conference.
More later.
STEP D: Return Divisions
Divide the new mega conference into four geographic-based divisions, each with 12 member schools. Establish a 11-game division schedule with one out-of-conference game. NEVER schedule regular season games with the SEC or Big Ten.
STEP E:. Negotiate five-year media rights agreements
With four divisions, issue an RFP for each division. Networks can bid for one or more of the division media rights. However, do not allow an exclusive rights deal. Each agreement would provide rights to four games per week.
F. Launch a Conference Championship Tournament
The four division champions would compete for the mega conference championship in a three-game playoff using existing geographic bowls. May we suggest Orange, Cotton and Rose?
G. Institute a new revenue sharing model
Revenue from the regular season media rights deals above will be shared equally among the 48 conference schools. This will keep the playing field relatively level. Revenue from the conference championship tournament will be divided equally among the four division champions. Revenue from the remaining bowl appearances will go to the participating schools.
Keep the financial playing relatively field level while rewarding on-field excellence. No media bias. No polls. No section committee.
A national championship earned on the field of play.
So, which schools will make up the Mega Conference?
In part two of our series, we will examine the potential division structures and their schools.
GO CANES!
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