Every time you think conference realignment is over, something crazy happens. That said, between the Big Ten saying they’re content with 12 teams, the Big 12 saying they’d like to stick with 10 teams and the ACC now saying they feel “very settled” with 14 teams, perhaps things are indeed beginning to slow down.
ACC Expansion: Conference ‘Very Settled’ On 14 Teams, Begins Renegotiating TV Contract
In an interview with The Associated Press, Swofford said Friday that the league is “very settled” at 14 members after announcing last month it would add Pittsburgh and Syracuse from the Big East. It’s still unclear exactly when those schools would begin play in the ACC. Big East bylaws require a 27-month notice and $5 million exit fee.
That sound you just heard was the remaining Big East football schools weeping.
Since they’re settling with 14 teams, the ACC has begun renegotiating its TV deal with ESPN. Earlier this year, the league signed a $1.86 billion deal that gave ESPN and ABC exclusive rights to basketball and football programming. Expect that number to go up and expect Syracuse and Pitt to point to whatever that new number is as the reason they did what they did.
Stay tuned for more conference realignment news.
See More:
