Notre Dame to the B1G Conference?

[IrishLion]

If true, this is a big mistake IMO.

It certainly doesn't seem like the safe decision.

I think I disagree for now... ND has leverage for as long as JS gets assurances that they aren't locked out of the postseason.

The SEC isn't going to block them from the playoff, because that might push ND to the BIG, which would give the BIG an expansion 'advantage'

On the flip side, if the SEC and BIG decide to lock ND out... it's one phone call from Jack to get ND in the BIG at any time, regardless of what they've said publicly. This isn't an opportunity that ND can miss out on. Any conference would take them as a full member, and would probably even offer to pay their ACC buyout if ND really pushed for it.

 

[OSU_Buckeyes]

Another day and still no official statement from Jack or anyone from ND regarding maintaining independence. I still think they are negotiating to join the B1G. Otherwise, a statement would have come out by now. All of college football is on pins and needles waiting on an announcement one way or another.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

This guy was pretty plugged for the USC move. Not saying he’s right and Dodd is wrong but just that probably still nobody knows anything lol

Dodd knows nothing about ND. Google his articles on ND the past 12 years and you see a hairpuller and a guy that guesses a ton.

 

[AvesEvo]

On the flip side, if the SEC and BIG decide to lock ND out... it's one phone call from Jack to get ND in the BIG at any time, regardless of what they've said publicly. This isn't an opportunity that ND can miss out on. Any conference would take them as a full member, and would probably even offer to pay their ACC buyout if ND really pushed for it.

I think I read on a Clemson board that the SEC won't block ND from the playoffs because ND in the playoffs could mean one less BIG team, which is to the SEC's advantage.

 

[ACamp1900]

Hopefully the negotiations include scUM being sent to play in a conference in Botswana

 

[GATTACA!]

Hopefully the negotiations include scUM being sent to play in a conference in Botswana

I heard Botswana is nice in the fall.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I think I read on a Clemson board that the SEC won't block ND from the playoffs because ND in the playoffs could mean one less BIG team, which is to the SEC's advantage.

Blocking ND from the playoff means ND will join a conference, which between the SEC and Big Ten will likely be the Big Ten. This would help the Big Ten, not only in terms of playoff teams, but from an overall revenue stand point. Thus, there is no reason for the SEC to try to force ND to join a conference. In fact, they are likely incentivized to have us not join a conference.

 

[IrishLax]

If you're ND you're having to navigate:
1. NBC Deal and how that gets folded in to Big Ten (or abandoned... which may be a non-starter and part of the issue in negotiations)
2. ACC exit penalties. It's been reported by ESPN that a condition of the COVID-year in the ACC was that *if* we joint a conference it HAS to be the ACC or we pay something like a $150million penalty.
3. ACC grant of rights. Only applies to non-football sports.

That's a lot of ground to cover, even if you've been having exploratory convos for a long time. And any one of those can potentially become a "deal breaker" if you hit an impasse. I would imagine that the NBC deal and home broadcast rights is actually probably the biggest sticking point in the whole thing.

 

[Dale]

The SEC is ESPN. The B1G is Fox. Independent ND keeps the ACC brought to you by ESPN afloat, at a massive undervaluation at that.

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah unless the "playoff" simply becomes Big Ten champ vs. SEC champ, it is better for the SEC for us to be independent b/c any at-large spot we're eligible for, the #2 SEC team would likely also be able to fill.

 

[tussin]

If you're ND you're having to navigate:
1. NBC Deal and how that gets folded in to Big Ten (or abandoned... which may be a non-starter and part of the issue in negotiations)
2. ACC exit penalties. It's been reported by ESPN that a condition of the COVID-year in the ACC was that *if* we joint a conference it HAS to be the ACC or we pay something like a $150million penalty.
3. ACC grant of rights. Only applies to non-football sports.

That's a lot of ground to cover, even if you've been having exploratory convos for a long time. And any one of those can potentially become a "deal breaker" if you hit an impasse. I would imagine that the NBC deal and home broadcast rights is actually probably the biggest sticking point in the whole thing.

I understand COVID was a very difficult spot to be in for ND, but I'm surprised that Savvy Jack agreed to the bolded. Many saw this coming to some extent.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If you're ND you're having to navigate:
1. NBC Deal and how that gets folded in to Big Ten (or abandoned... which may be a non-starter and part of the issue in negotiations)
2. ACC exit penalties. It's been reported by ESPN that a condition of the COVID-year in the ACC was that *if* we joint a conference it HAS to be the ACC or we pay something like a $150million penalty.
3. ACC grant of rights. Only applies to non-football sports.

That's a lot of ground to cover, even if you've been having exploratory convos for a long time. And any one of those can potentially become a "deal breaker" if you hit an impasse. I would imagine that the NBC deal and home broadcast rights is actually probably the biggest sticking point in the whole thing.

I read somewhere that the ACC join-a-conference-clause meant that ND couldn't join a conference for football and keep its non-football sports in the ACC. In which case it wouldn't apply to a full move. But, you know, many grains of salt.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I think watching ND play teams like MD, Rutgers, IN, IL, NU sounds dreadful.

How about USC travelling to Rutgers? UCLA to Maryland? I honestly dont see how that is in anyone's best interest nor does it move eyeballs

 

[Dale]

$150 million is a big number and it’s not my millions lol but what is our cut of NBC + ACC money annually now? What would it be in just year 1 in the B1G? And what would the B1G be willing to cover for ND more than likely? I feel as that $150 million can be made up quicker than it would appear

 

[irishff1014]

How about USC travelling to Rutgers? UCLA to Maryland? I honestly dont see how that is in anyone's best interest nor does it move eyeballs

Traveling budgets are gonna go through the roof and it will take some work to do scheduling that's for sure.

 

[stlnd01]

How about USC travelling to Rutgers? UCLA to Maryland? I honestly dont see how that is in anyone's best interest nor does it move eyeballs

In a conference that big, with divisions or pods or whatever, those teams will probably only play each other like once every four years.
USC has lots of alums in New York. If Rutgers has fans, I'm sure a few live in LA.
And Notre Dame travels like that all the damn time. Why can't Maryland? (in football only, agree it's absurd for most other sports)

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

In a conference that big, with divisions or pods or whatever, those teams will probably only play each other like once every four years.
USC has lots of alums in New York. If Rutgers has fans, I'm sure a few live in LA.
And Notre Dame travels like that all the damn time. Why can't Maryland? (in football only, agree it's absurd for most other sports)

Because outside of a very localized region there aren’t enough fans to justify these matchups. Outside of Maryland no one gives a shit about Maryland football. They don’t move the needle, aren’t considered to be worthy of prime time spots on tv or streaming and who wants to watch USC at Piscataway?

Ultimately what I’m getting at is I think USC versus Michigan, OSU, PSU, those games move the needle. Those games a large portion of available markets will tune in. Just like wherever ND plays, there are large amounts of people nation wide tuning in. I firmly believe that the needle won’t move anywhere near as much for Rutgers at the Colesum or Maryland in Pasadena or give Versa

 

[IrishLax]

I read somewhere that the ACC join-a-conference-clause meant that ND couldn't join a conference for football and keep its non-football sports in the ACC. In which case it wouldn't apply to a full move. But, you know, many grains of salt.

Interesting!

 

[Dale]

No one cares anymore more or less about USC vs Rutgers as Illinois vs Rutgers so it’s a moot point to me. They’ve already made their bed with Rutgers and Maryland, I don’t think those games really matter, at all, and never have no matter the opponent.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

I read somewhere that the ACC join-a-conference-clause meant that ND couldn't join a conference for football and keep its non-football sports in the ACC. In which case it wouldn't apply to a full move. But, you know, many grains of salt.

I have seen that and it makes sense. We will still be on the hook for a huge buy-out, but it will get us around that provision.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

No one cares anymore more or less about USC vs Rutgers as Illinois vs Rutgers so it’s a moot point to me. They’ve already made their bed with Rutgers and Maryland, I don’t think those games really matter, at all, and never have no matter the opponent.

right... so why keep them in the group. Why force USC to travel to Piscataway ( no matter how often).... Why not just create a super conference with teams that justify their payouts? Isnt that the point of realignment to make money and play games that matter?

 

[Dale]

right... so why keep them in the group. Why force USC to travel to Piscataway ( no matter how often).... Why not just create a super conference with teams that justify their payouts? Isnt that the point of realignment to make money and play games that matter?

Well yes I posed this same theoretical question earlier but the answer as someone also said they can’t just kick someone out. Why would Illinois, Purdue, etc vote to kick out Rutgers? They’d be next on the chopping block and you’d be left with a conference of like 6 teams lol. Also someone has to lose the games. Take the check and take the Ls. Fox doesn’t need every game to matter they need 1-3 games weekly to matter.

 

[bobbyok1]

I read somewhere that the ACC join-a-conference-clause meant that ND couldn't join a conference for football and keep its non-football sports in the ACC. In which case it wouldn't apply to a full move. But, you know, many grains of salt.

I heard this as well. I'll try and find the source

 

[tussin]

How about USC travelling to Rutgers? UCLA to Maryland? I honestly dont see how that is in anyone's best interest nor does it move eyeballs

If B1G expands to 20 that game will happen every 4(?) years? Really, who cares. The benefits clearly outweigh the negatives and it's not like everyone is pumped to see USC go to Pullman every other year.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

If B1G expands to 20 that game will happen every 4(?) years? Really, who cares. The benefits clearly outweigh the negatives and it's not like everyone is pumped to see USC go to Pullman every other year.

Call me crazy but I’d expect the people shelling out the money in payouts cares.

Also and I may have missed this but in all this talk of realignment I haven’t seen anything about the impacts to the playoff setup. Gotta think that is a big deal with previous talk of expansion as well. Haven’t heard anything about this from anyone.

 

[Dale]

Call me crazy but I’d expect the people shelling out the money in payouts cares.

Is the suggestion then Fox would want a 4-5 week schedule?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If you're ND you're having to navigate:
1. NBC Deal and how that gets folded in to Big Ten (or abandoned... which may be a non-starter and part of the issue in negotiations)
2. ACC exit penalties. It's been reported by ESPN that a condition of the COVID-year in the ACC was that *if* we joint a conference it HAS to be the ACC or we pay something like a $150million penalty.
3. ACC grant of rights. Only applies to non-football sports.

That's a lot of ground to cover, even if you've been having exploratory convos for a long time. And any one of those can potentially become a "deal breaker" if you hit an impasse. I would imagine that the NBC deal and home broadcast rights is actually probably the biggest sticking point in the whole thing.

Money has to be one of the primary drivers behind this proposed arrangement, which is mostly tied to media rights, so it would seem to be a waste of time to be in serious discussions about this if ND is trying to maintain the NBC contract (which we lose huge amounts of money on).

Regarding our "join a conference" clause with the ACC, my understanding is similar to Pops' above. I can't see Swarbrick having tied our hands that way, especially when the fate of the ACC has been in doubt since before these deals were struck.

And the GOR buyout for non-football sports would be a pittance, right?

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Is the suggestion then Fox would want a 4-5 week schedule?

No not at all. I’m saying where all of this is going is a single 16-20 super conference that includes the best teams in the country with markets that produce the most eyeballs. That’s the end game. All this is just delaying the inevitable. There is no reason for the Vanderbilts to make the same payout as Alabama

 

[stlnd01]

Also and I may have missed this but in all this talk of realignment I haven’t seen anything about the impacts to the playoff setup. Gotta think that is a big deal with previous talk of expansion as well. Haven’t heard anything about this from anyone.

Probably b/c it's too soon to know. But yes that's looming over all of this, and playoff access has to be in the calculus of not just Notre Dame but all the lesser conferences and any team with real title aspirations who's currently in one of them. (Clemson, for instance).
I've even seen floated a scenario where the Big Ten and SEC eventually just set up their own playoff and tell the rest of college football to go pound sand.