This provokes some interesting questions. Will the NCAA allow an 11 member conference to hold a football championship game (the rule is a 12 member minimum)? If not, will the ACC go after a 12th school? Is South Carolina in danger of departing the SEC to return to the ACC? What will happen to the Big East in football? Is this the beginning of the super conferences? http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0630/1574726.html
To answer the championship game question, IMHO, hell no they shouldn't. The ACC knew by inviting 2 teams that this is what would happen. If they want a championship game, try adding another team. If they can't...well sorry.
The NCAA is considering a rule change that will allow conferences with 10 or 11 teams to have a championship game. The Big East will not be effected too much in basketball, but will have to add teams in football. Looking at a map, I would think they would hit up Cincinatti and Army (NY) from the C-USA, and Marshall (WV) from the Mid America Conf. They may consider bringing UConn or Navy (MD) as well. Addinf 4 teams would give them 10, and eligible for the championship game if the new rules get approved. If the ACC needs a 12th team, they might consider Louisville, which would also fits for basketball purposes as well. All of that would pretty much destroy C-USA, but they suck anyway, so who cares?
I think we'll see a big shakeout in the next 3-4 years. The SEC and Big XII should stay the same, but we may see moves by the Pac-10 and Big (11) Ten to add teams to get to 12. I think some realignment among CUSA, the Big East, the Mountain West and a few other mid-majors will then occur. Some have said that we're headed for four superconferences of 16 teams each, but I'd be surprised if that happens. I think six 12-member conferences are more likely, resulting in fewer mid-majors being squeezed out. Either way, there will be some unhappy people in the college football world.
I think this move is in the best interest for both Miami and VT. Miami will be in a much better conference for their power sports(baseball and football). CUSA stands to be the biggest loser in all this mess. This is a golden oppurtunity for teams like Marshall to jump into a conference with BCS ties. There was talk on ESPNews that they thought the Big East should agressivley pursue Notre Dame to ensure football viability. I doubt ND would give up their lucrative TV deal though. If the Big East could lure Notre Dame and Louiville then they should be ok, if not they will be in big trouble when the BCS expires in a couple years. Anyone know if this will affect our contract with VT to come to BR in 2004?
I firmly believe the ACC is still going to try to get to 12, and they have something up their sleeve. Look for another school to get an ACC invite in the next few months. Who are the candidates? Here's who I think the ACC will go after, in order of who they want most to who they want least. 1. South Carolina 2. West Virginia 3. Marshall 4. Navy 5. South Florida 6. Central Florida 7. East Carolina The ACC may think they have a shot to get South Carolina back into the fold. They will sell the ACC over SEC angle to the Gamecocks with three core arguments: 1) Travel. Now frankly, this is an advantage. South Carolina is on the eastern edge of the SEC, but they'd be right in the middle of the new ACC. Plus, air travel on the East Coast is faster and cheaper for the few games they do have to fly to. 2) Competitive football. The key reason South Carolina left the ACC in 1992 was because the conference was so weak in football back then. Florida State changed EVERYTHING! Now the addition of Virginia Tech and Miami, IMHO, puts the ACC right up there with the SEC and the Big 12. And the big money championship game is possible once a twelfth team is in the fold. 3) Competitive baseball. USC wants an outlet for their College World Series caliber baseball team. With Miami to accompany Florida State and Georgia Tech, this makes the ACC a tough baseball league. The only drawback is basketball. South Carolina is not competitive in men's or women's basketball. They would become the doormat of the league in those sports unless they are willing to put up big money to compete with the likes of Duke, Maryland, and Virginia. Should we SEC fans sweat this? I don't know. I must say, if I'm South Carolina's AD, and the ACC calls me wanting me to join, I'm tempted. I really am. But, two can play at this game. The SEC should not just sit on it's laurels and wait for one of our teams to bolt. At the first sign of trouble, WE should immediately begin talks with the southwestern fringe of the ACC (Florida State and Georgia Tech specifically). Florida State is a longshot, but I think we could definitely steal Georgia Tech if we wanted to. Mike Slive is a smart guy. I'm sure he's already preparing for the inevitable turf war that is going to come between the ACC and SEC. Would any Gamecock fans care to jump in on this? You guys think the ACC will court you? Are ya'll interested if they do?
If you talk to any HARDCORE ACC fan, they say USC has 0 chance of becoming an ACC member because USC left the ACC in 1971 when the academic standards became too tough for them. When USC wanted back into the ACC in 1991, they laughed and said no and kept with 9 teams.
Just to clear something up, Jetstorm, USC left the ACC after the 1971 football season. They were Independent from 1972 until they joined the SEC for the 1992 season. So, they have not been a part of that conference for over 30 years. That said, I do believe you have a good point. However, the SEC has been tops financially for the last several years. The ACC would have to make a pretty sweet offer to Carolina to get them to bolt from the revenue sharing of the SEC. I won't say this cannot happen, but I'd be very surprised to see them leave the lucrative SEC.
My mistake. I thought South Carolina jumped straight from the ACC to the SEC in 1992. I knew they were a charter member of the ACC so I assumed they had rode the whole way with that conference until they went to the SEC. As for the money part, I don't doubt what you're saying as of right now, but if the ACC goes to 12, they will likely follow the model of the SEC. That means that they will be able to match anything we offer, at least on paper. A championship game, seven bowl tie-ins, revenue sharing, it will all be there. So then, it comes down to two factors, geography and on-the-field competitiveness.
