FSU Suing ACC over withdrawal Fee

I said several weeks ago that I would laugh my a$$ off if FSU went through all the effort and cost to pay the buyout to get out of the ACC, only to end up in the Big-12 and make about the same payday as they're currently getting.

 

I’ve said before, from an SEC perspective, they don’t bring enough to justify inviting them, unless we start kicking out members. With 16 teams, short of adding a new network partner, our TV slate is just about full, especially for good games on the two primary networks of ABC and ESPN. The incremental add of an FSU MSU game over a SC MSU game on the SECN in a given week doesn’t justify 60 million a year as an equal share. Keeping the Big10 out of the south is the best argument for taking them.
But I don’t know the Big10’s thought process. Do they have the same inventory constraint? Is the AAU thing a deal breaker? Do they even want to go past 16 right now? Or would locking up 2 southern schools truly make them a national brand and box the SEC in, making it worth ignoring the other stuff? And the Big10 will get in the south anyway if they want to. USF for example meets their criteria and with Big10 money could be competitive quickly. Same with Miami, UNC, UVA etc.

That’s why it wouldn’t surprise me if these talks are real. Even if it’s just FSU trying to show how “wanted” they are.

 

If talks with the big12 are happening (early exploratory, whatever) then the SEC and B10 have already declined to extend an invite.

 

I'm not sure that's a promotion in conference or a demotion... but to them it's all about money. We'll see what happens with all that, and I know I will be laughing no matter how that goes down. ACC for the Big-12? Both are subpar/second rate conferences.

The funny thing is I remember when Bobby and the noles went to the ACC instead of the SEC becasue they thought it would be easier to get the Natty from there. Now they're running away from the ACC for more money?

That school... athletic department... football program has no moral compass..

 

I don't think it means that. I'm sure FSU and Clemson just assumed the Big-10 and SEC would give them an offer up front, but I donI don't think the Big-10 or SEC will formally discuss or vote until the schools have left their conference. That's always been the SEC's position.

I think the issue is probably that neither the Big-10 or SEC gave FSU any assurances and not their scrambling for a back-up plan, and maybe what they feel is leverage.

 

I dont know what to has transpired up till now. I do know you dont attract attention by punching down below your level. I will also agree that the horns and sooners had some assurance there would be interest if they were available.

This situation doesnt feel the same and never has. Maybe its because the clowns are amateurs and the Big Boy conferences dont want the headaches associated with them or the anticipated reduced payouts to current members should they eventually join.

Either way im not seeing any way that talking to the b12 will spur an offer bc the adults recognize that should the time come to offer an invite, the clowns will perform circus acrobatics to join whoever asks and leave where ever they are post haste

I sincerely hope it isnt the SEC

 

You're right the SEC won't formally say anything until those schools announce their intent to leave their current conference, but they're certainly going to hold informal talks with schools that they have an interest accepting. Every report at the time said Texas and OU had been in talks with SEC officials leading up to their official letter to the Big 12 commish announcing their intent not to renew the media rights deal in 2025. A day or two later the SEC voted to accept them as new members.

So... I think its safe to assume FSU and Clemson would reach out and SEC officials would be talking to them if there was mutual interest. If FSU is actually talking to the Big 12, it either means the SEC said no thanks and/or FSU is trying to obtain leverage. The issue with that, IMO, is that the SEC would only add those schools as a defensive move against the B1G invading their territory. FSU and Clemson going to the Big 12 is like a win-win-win for the SEC; the SEC doesn't have to split their money pie two more ways, they don't upset two of their existing members (UF and SoCar), AND they don't end up with the B1G in their backyard.

Like lots of things FSU does, it reeks of desperation. But who knows how true those reports are, take everything with a grain of salt.

 

Anywhere but.

Anyone, are fsu(and Clemson) determined to leave the ACC? Is the relationship between teams and conference too fractured to continue the association?

 

Clemson and fsu want uneven revenue distributions, if the ACC decides to bend over for them I'm sure they would stay.

 

You can hold office and not be able to complete a coherent sentence so nothing surprises me

 

Exactly what many of us have been saying . . .

 

yea, simply put neither school would instantly bring in 50 million in extra dollars, and at this point, they would need to.

Would UNC bring in that kind of money and either of the Virginia teams? Seems doubtful that slapping a sec team in North Carolina brings in an extra $50 million?
My understanding is UNC thinks SEC academically is beneath them, let them join the big 10

 

Seems like it's going well. fsu overvalued their brand and now for believing they deserve a bigger share of revenue find they are disliked by the rest of the ACC school administrations and that the bigger conferences aren't falling down to bring them in. Very nice.

 

Oh, they definitely do. My brother lives in SC, and, he says the Clemson fans in his area are insufferable.

 

It's not that FSU, Clemson or even UNC couldn't generate the level of interest that could generate that kind of revenue. The real issue that keeps the Big-10 and SEC from being interested is that their TV deals are already in place and long term.

The Texas, OU, USC and UCLA moves were factored into the SEC and Big-10 TV deals because they were done during the negotiation phase. I believe those moves actually increased the revenue for everybody. UW and Oregon got in after the TV deals were done, so their additions really didn't generate more revenue for the Big-10. Indirectly they probably added a little value because UW and Oregon televised games will probably draw more viewers than Northwestern and Purdue, who may get bumped from TV. Plus with the block of West coast schools they have a stronger PST presence. But I'm pretty sure this was the reason UW and Oregon only got half shares. I'm reasonably sure all the Big-10 schools, including USC and UCLA, all agreed to give up a little revenue now because they knew UW and Oregon would be good additions in the long run.

This, in my opinion, is the issue that Clemson and FSU have never understood. Until the TV deals are ready to be renegotiated, in maybe 6-10 years (edited per 96Gatorcise correction), there's really no reason for the SEC or Big-10 to want to add anybody. The TV networks have no place to put more games. All their prime football viewing slots are already filled, so adding members doesn't generate more revenue.

That said, I think that when the new round of TV negotiations start up in 6-10 years, the SEC and Big-10 will probably both have more interest in FSU and Clemson, along with maybe UNC. How much their negative actions in getting out of the ACC hurt their interest is anyone's guess.

The one wild card in all of this is Notre Dame. If Notre Dame decided that they were ready to join the Big-10 or SEC tomorrow, there would be immediate interest from both conferences, and that's because Notre Dame would, at least in theory, add an immediate TV inventory slot and revenue from NBC. So the SEC or Big-10 could take Notre Dame and probably one of UNC, FSU and Clemson as the "Mizzou".

The only other way I can see anything happening for 6-10 years is if FSU and Clemson can somehow completely implode the ACC and ACC TV deal, but I don't see that happening. Until then, I think FSU and Clemson are probably stuck in the ACC or headed to independent status.

 

TV deals are up in 2030 for the B10 and 2034 for the SEC

 

We gave them a taste of something too.

 

Thank you for correcting me. I forgot ours was 10 years.