If we are seriously unhappy enough to consider changing conferences, our only choice other than staying unhappy and remaining in the Big Ten, is to join the SEC. I’m writing off the Big12 for reasons similar to the ACC.
It’s doubtful we would have an interest in the ACC. It’s TV media rights contract is awful—paying member schools an average of $30 million per year—extending all the way thru 2036. Big Ten schools (except Oregon and Washington) will be paid $70 million each next year. In addition, Michigan would not want to agree to the ACC’s GOR agreement and its punitive $100+ million exit fee.
The poor media rights deal is the reason so many ACC teams want to leave, but they are trapped in place by the GOR and the punitive exit fee. They are concerned that their athletic departments being “starved” for funding for all their athletic projects, they will be rendered uncompetitive, a problem that after a certain point may never be solvable.
According to the SEC’s new deal withn ESPN/Disney each member school will be paid $70 million in 2024. The addition of Michigan, Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina to the SEC would dramatically increase the value of that media rights contract. Pick a number—$100 million per school in year one of the 10-year deal?
So take your choice, stay in a tent where everyone else hates you, or choose a conference that would invite you in a minute and has a lot more pluses than minuses.
It’s doubtful we would have an interest in the ACC. It’s TV media rights contract is awful—paying member schools an average of $30 million per year—extending all the way thru 2036. Big Ten schools (except Oregon and Washington) will be paid $70 million each next year. In addition, Michigan would not want to agree to the ACC’s GOR agreement and its punitive $100+ million exit fee.
The poor media rights deal is the reason so many ACC teams want to leave, but they are trapped in place by the GOR and the punitive exit fee. They are concerned that their athletic departments being “starved” for funding for all their athletic projects, they will be rendered uncompetitive, a problem that after a certain point may never be solvable.
According to the SEC’s new deal withn ESPN/Disney each member school will be paid $70 million in 2024. The addition of Michigan, Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina to the SEC would dramatically increase the value of that media rights contract. Pick a number—$100 million per school in year one of the 10-year deal?
So take your choice, stay in a tent where everyone else hates you, or choose a conference that would invite you in a minute and has a lot more pluses than minuses.
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