Analyst predicts ESPN cancelling ACC TV contract after FSU, Clemson, UNC, UVA leave and Big 12 poaches others
Longtime college football radio host Greg Swaim predicts that ESPN will cancel the ACC's TV contract after FSU, Clemson, UNC, and UVA leave and the Big 12 poaches some of the remaining schools after that.
He added a bonus prediction of the 80-team Super League starting in 2031.
"Others reporting various legal suits being filed by both current ACC members and the conference itself, but in a nutshell here is what's going on...and what's going to happen," Swaim prefaced before saying, "FSU and Clemson want out for more money, and UNC and soon UVA will jump to a higher paying conference, either the Big Ten or SEC.
"The rest will then try to leave, as at that point ESPN will cancel the contract and those schools remaining that get a Big 12 offer will take it, as the ACC will basically be dead in the water as a P4 at that time. It's just that simple...at least until the Super Conference plan kicks in around 2031."
Swaim previously predicted that UNC and UVA would join the B1G with Kansas and Notre Dame, while projecting FSU, Clemson, OK State, K-State, and Texas Tech to get and accept an SEC invite.
"If the so-called 'Super Conferences' begin poaching the Big12 and ACC, it's (Kansas football) to the B1G along with Notre Dame, UNC, and UVA, while FSU, Clemson, OK State, K-State, and Texas Tech to the SEC," Swaim wrote. "There will be other B12 and ACC school poaches as well, but at this time please, no wagering!"
ACC has contingency plan that'd leave conference resembling a Group of Five
PressBox DC's Jim Williams reported that the ACC has a contingency plan of Memphis, Tulane, Wazzu, Oregon State, UConn, and USF joining the conference in the event of the ACC's biggest schools follow through on their plans of leaving.
One has to wonder if the ESPN would then renegotiate a deal with the new-look ACC for less money to keep the conference afloat.
The Pac-12 died because there was little initiative shown by George Kliavkoff to get a TV deal. Maybe James Phillips can avoid that same fate even with a watered-down product.