College Football--Big Ten Expansion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what do I think is happening today ?

I think that Notre Dame understands the current and future landscape of big-time college football well. ND understands that the Big Ten Conference has taken several shrewd steps that will affect Notre Dame football.

To remain as an independent in college football, Notre Dame needs a CFP that gives ND a strong chance at making the 12 team playoff. Things are going to change in 2026 regarding the CFP and, as matters stand now, the Big Ten Conference and the SEC will control those changes to CFP eligibility. Notre Dame may want a strong ally in the ACC to counter the influence of the Big ten Conference and of the SEC. Notre Dame--even though independent--has a spot on the CFP committee.

This could be. ND could be saying we agree not to join anyone and stay ind. with our deal with you and play Cal and Stanford every year. One on our NBC revenue and one on your ESPN revenue. ND already agreed to play a number of ACC schools. Long history with BC, GTech, Miami. And for ND they would love to play Cal and Stanford in non-revenue sports. They have to travel regardless.

But they may also just join the ACC if all of this can be pulled off. Either now (less likley) or a couple of years from now.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Stanford pressuring ACC. They want an answer this week or they move on to other options.

My guess --- and it is a guess -- not reports or other information --- is that the ACC makes the offer Thursday.

Stanford pretending they have options is cute

They do. Independent. Not a long term fix but buys them a couple/few years.

They could do an ND and go ind. for football and ACC for all other sports.

Why would the ACC agree to that? That's all the downside of a west coast member without their market for football

Because it gets them in the door. Same reason they did it for ND. Increases the chance that they come in for football.

Stanford is not ND. They are probably looking at the MWC (assuming the MCW even wants them) or the AAC

They cannot go to either because there is no competition for them there for most sports. Stanford would own the ACC for most Olympic sports never mind those conferences.

That's not the ACC's problem, it's Stanford's. I think a year or two of recruiting with a cross country travel schedule will kill recruiting for their non-revenue sports no matter what conference they land in

Are you kidding me? DC is a recruited athlete who would give left nut to play for Stanford. DC could care less about the travel -- all about getting into Stanford. The kids who play at Stanford are using it as a slight advantage to go to Stanford. If they had to fly to Germany every week in the season they would do it.

Part of their prowess is being a great private academic school with P5 sports. Duke, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern are really the only others in that category. If they do independent, or drop to a G5 conference then half of that equation disappears.

This. Stanford, Duke, BC, and some others are not making these decisions based on football. It is a university decision based on how they want to position their schools.

I see Rice being very interested if SMU comes in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what do I think is happening today ?

I think that Notre Dame understands the current and future landscape of big-time college football well. ND understands that the Big Ten Conference has taken several shrewd steps that will affect Notre Dame football.

To remain as an independent in college football, Notre Dame needs a CFP that gives ND a strong chance at making the 12 team playoff. Things are going to change in 2026 regarding the CFP and, as matters stand now, the Big Ten Conference and the SEC will control those changes to CFP eligibility. Notre Dame may want a strong ally in the ACC to counter the influence of the Big ten Conference and of the SEC. Notre Dame--even though independent--has a spot on the CFP committee.

This could be. ND could be saying we agree not to join anyone and stay ind. with our deal with you and play Cal and Stanford every year. One on our NBC revenue and one on your ESPN revenue. ND already agreed to play a number of ACC schools. Long history with BC, GTech, Miami. And for ND they would love to play Cal and Stanford in non-revenue sports. They have to travel regardless.

But they may also just join the ACC if all of this can be pulled off. Either now (less likley) or a couple of years from now.

Agree except with your final two sentences.

From Notre Dame's perspective, this is all about the CFP and controlling the changes to the CFP in 2025 & 2026. Notre Dame has a seat at the table as an independent, so why surrender that when you can make an ally ?

Okay, so how does ND screw the Big Ten Conference and help the ACC financially if Notre Dame does NOT become a full football member of the ACC ? Easy. ND schedules few to no regular season games against Big Ten opponents and schedules more games against the patsies of the ACC.

Notre Dame draws viewers nationwide & puts fans in stadium seats. This results in more money from broadcast partners.

[Anonymous]

Stanford is a pawn at the moment. Cal is something less than a pawn at this moment.

This is between Notre Dame and the Big Ten with the SEC lurking in the background rooting for the Big Ten Conference.

Truthfully, if Notre Dame is not willing to make a firm commitment to the ACC to join ASAP as a full football member, then the Big Ten Conference has more control over the outcome. The obvious Big Ten moves are to offer Stanford, offer Stanford & Cal, do nothing and wait.

The genius of Notre Dame's move is that it can bring substantially more money to the ACC which could be enough to keep FSU & Clemson in the ACC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stanford is a pawn at the moment. Cal is something less than a pawn at this moment.

This is between Notre Dame and the Big Ten with the SEC lurking in the background rooting for the Big Ten Conference.

Truthfully, if Notre Dame is not willing to make a firm commitment to the ACC to join ASAP as a full football member, then the Big Ten Conference has more control over the outcome. The obvious Big Ten moves are to offer Stanford, offer Stanford & Cal, do nothing and wait.

The genius of Notre Dame's move is that it can bring substantially more money to the ACC which could be enough to keep FSU & Clemson in the ACC.

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NOTRE DAME is pushing hard & using its influence with the ACC to encourage the ACC to expand and accept Stanford & UCal-Berkeley.

All they have to do is agree to join as a full member and the ACC will do whatever they want. If they don’t agree, they have no leverage

As long as Notre Dame joining for football is a possibility, they have leverage. Plus, they’re a voting member. Not to mention, the potential for a Stanford/ND and/or Cal/ND as one or two of ND’s five ACC games every year has got to be appealing to ESPN. Especially if it’s a late game when the SEC games are over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NOTRE DAME is pushing hard & using its influence with the ACC to encourage the ACC to expand and accept Stanford & UCal-Berkeley.

All they have to do is agree to join as a full member and the ACC will do whatever they want. If they don’t agree, they have no leverage

As long as Notre Dame joining for football is a possibility, they have leverage. Plus, they’re a voting member. Not to mention, the potential for a Stanford/ND and/or Cal/ND as one or two of ND’s five ACC games every year has got to be appealing to ESPN. Especially if it’s a late game when the SEC games are over.

I think that Notre Dame would have to agree to play either 6 or 7 ACC games per year, but could stipulate that ND will play Cal & Stanford every season. Notre Dame's influence comes from Notre Dame's ability to schedule additional ACC games beyond the agreed upon 5 games.

[Anonymous]

The Big Ten Conference needs to give serious consideration or reconsideration to adding Stanford & Cal. At least this gives them control of the West Coast market. And it adds an additional lure to attract Notre Dame to the conference when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

If the Big Ten Conference thinks in terms of a 24 team super conference, then adding Stanford & Cal, or, at least, adding Stanford makes sense for the long-term--rather than immediate--return on investing in Stanford now. Cal too. Plus, Northwestern needs company.

Waiting for the ACC to break-up is a gamble. Better to take the sure thing now and think in terms of a 24 team conference so that at least 4 spots remain open.

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame's weakness is that if ND commits to playing 6 or 7 games against ACC opponents then Notre Dame might lose their seat at the CFP table as an independent.

[Anonymous]

the Big ten's weakness is that it owes loyalty to the 4 Pac-12 teams joining the conference next year. UCLA & USC especially deserve a say in further West Coast expansion in their recruiting territory. Stanford is more palatable because Stanford has a national recruiting base versus Cal's western focus.

[Anonymous]

A significant advantage to the Big Ten Conference is the Big Ten Network. West Coast athletes can be seen multiple times at multiple viewing times because BTN is devoted to Big Ten sports & BTN is very well run. (Should get better with USC on board.)

The value of the BTN broadcaster is especially high for West Coast athletes whose play might be missed by East Coast viewers due to time zone differences. But BTN replays solve the time zone issue.

[Anonymous]

Cal & Stanford are desperate. If the ACC offers at a less than full share, both will accept, but it won't last beyond the first contractual obligation.

The Big Ten Conference has a moral responsibility to Stanford & Cal and has a lot to gain long term.

[Anonymous]

The ACC offer to Stanford & Cal will be in the range of $24 million to $28 million. At $30 million, Stanford is a bargain for the Big Ten Conference. Cal less so, but would be a very interesting addition.

So, Big Ten, if Cal & Stanford would say yes at $28 million each for the remainder of the broadcast contract--6 to 7 years--what would your response be ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ACC offer to Stanford & Cal will be in the range of $24 million to $28 million. At $30 million, Stanford is a bargain for the Big Ten Conference. Cal less so, but would be a very interesting addition.

So, Big Ten, if Cal & Stanford would say yes at $28 million each for the remainder of the broadcast contract--6 to 7 years--what would your response be ?

Please consider the list at post 18:50 today August 8, 2023.