There is a bit of misconception that the ACC’s future lies in the hands of the Florida States and Clemsons. Well, that’s only partially true given recent events.
It’s been over a year since Florida State started litigation against the ACC, and nearly a year since Clemson followed. Legally speaking it seems we are barely out of the starting gate. We haven’t even got into the merits of the grant of rights – just a bunch of legal positioning. That’s what my untrained eye sees on the situation that you can agree or disagree with.
We’ve also seen ESPN extend the option to their media deal through 2036 adding another layer to any lawsuits. We’ve also seen discussion of potential brand revenue sharing, potentially more brand games with Notre Dame, and a possible end to the Clemson and FSU lawsuits.
That’s where we will begin – the brand revenue-sharing proposal. In whatever implementation this ends up with, it would result in brands like Clemson, FSU, maybe UNC and Miami getting increased revenue vs others members of the ACC. With the result of the lawsuit in question, and the uncertain desire of the SEC or Big 10 to expand in the near future FSU and Clemson might be in the ACC for a while.
That said they likely won’t be dropping the lawsuits unless a favorable brand sharing agreement comes their way. Sure they will vote for it. Schools like Wake Forest, Boston College, SMU and Duke won’t have a P2 home under any realistic scenario. Getting somewhat reduced revenues to stay at the P4 level – yeah they’ll probably vote for it too.
That leaves the ACC’s middle tier. The schools in the ultimate limbo. They could end up in the P2, or a distant Big 12, a diminished ACC, or they could end up the next Oregon State and Washington State.
Schools like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, NC State, Louisville, Virginia, and Pittsburgh will be the deciding vote one whether this brand initiative goes through.
Will Jim Phillips come up with a revenue distribution scenario that’s worth it for the middle-tier ACC brands for the conference to get to the early 2030s in-tact?
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