ACC Champion vs. ND on NYD a viable opportunity

[VT8207]

I think the SEC champion vs. B12 champion New Years Day bowl game has created a real opportunity for the ACC and Notre Dame. With the pending 4 team playoff upcoming and the format yet to be determined, both the ACC and ND need to find a way to consistently make this playoff if we are to remain relevant in college football.
A bowl alignment between the ACC and Notre Dame would provide for that relevancy and provide each partner with some critical benefits.

ND would be able to remain an independant - which they apparently very much prefer or they would already be in a conference, plus lock in an annual prestige and big money bowl.

The ACC would have a windfall bowl game every year locked up - regardless of what happens to the BCS.

The winners of the Rose Bowl (Pac10 vs Big 10), SEC vs. Big 12, and ACC vs. ND fill three of the 4 slots. The fourth slot would be the de facto At Large, keeping the senators from Utah and other "little sisters" quiet as that provides a seat at the table based on merit.

With this scenario, I would expect most years would have teams from 4 separate conferences in the playoff - and I see very little chance that any one conference (ala SEC) would be able to place 2 or more teams in the playoff on a consistent basis as the loser of the Championship games would likely fall out of the top 5 with a loss to a team outside their conference that late in the season.

This would mean the playoff could not be seeded until these games were played - so the season extends a couple weeks. That's the rub -- but the tradeoffs would be well worth it.

[UpstateSCHokie]

A 14 team conference champ plays a 1 team conference champ every year? No way. What if ND sucks like they have for the past 10-15 years? I don't like any deal that let's ND stay independent.

I think the SEC champion vs. B12 champion New Years Day bowl game has created a real opportunity for the ACC and Notre Dame. With the pending 4 team playoff upcoming and the format yet to be determined, both the ACC and ND need to find a way to consistently make this playoff if we are to remain relevant in college football.
A bowl alignment between the ACC and Notre Dame would provide for that relevancy and provide each partner with some critical benefits.

ND would be able to remain an independant - which they apparently very much prefer or they would already be in a conference, plus lock in an annual prestige and big money bowl.

The ACC would have a windfall bowl game every year locked up - regardless of what happens to the BCS.

The winners of the Rose Bowl (Pac10 vs Big 10), SEC vs. Big 12, and ACC vs. ND fill three of the 4 slots. The fourth slot would be the de facto At Large, keeping the senators from Utah and other "little sisters" quiet as that provides a seat at the table based on merit.

With this scenario, I would expect most years would have teams from 4 separate conferences in the playoff - and I see very little chance that any one conference (ala SEC) would be able to place 2 or more teams in the playoff on a consistent basis as the loser of the Championship games would likely fall out of the top 5 with a loss to a team outside their conference that late in the season.

This would mean the playoff could not be seeded until these games were played - so the season extends a couple weeks. That's the rub -- but the tradeoffs would be well worth it.

[VT8207]

A 14 team conference champ plays a 1 team conference champ every year? No way. What if ND sucks like they have for the past 10-15 years? I don't like any deal that let's ND stay independent.

But that's what makes this so attractive for the ACC. At least until ND returns to dominance - and that doesn't seem to be immenent - the ACC should be able to ride that pony to the playoffs on a regular basis.
Like it or not, ND is a huge marketing partner that would bring a lot to the table in negotiations w/ the networks. Bringing them into the conference as a full partner improves the marketability of the conference for regular season games, but does nothing to improve our ability to get into the playoffs. How does adding ND to the ACC improve the likelihood that VT gets to the playoffs? Not at all. Having them as a major bowl partner when we win the ACCCG improves that a ton. It's a win-win.
Granted, as a purist I'm still irked by the special treatment that ND has always enjoyed in the media and polls and this only exasberates this - but as a realist I can see the benefits to the ACC in general and VT in particular. And I'm willing to make that trade -- yes, it's a sellout... but that has already be forced by the massive shift in focus of CFB from great rivalries and on field play to the chase for $$s.

[NCHokie83]

But that's what makes this so attractive for the ACC. At least until ND returns to dominance - and that doesn't seem to be immenent - the ACC should be able to ride that pony to the playoffs on a regular basis.
Like it or not, ND is a huge marketing partner that would bring a lot to the table in negotiations w/ the networks. Bringing them into the conference as a full partner improves the marketability of the conference for regular season games, but does nothing to improve our ability to get into the playoffs. How does adding ND to the ACC improve the likelihood that VT gets to the playoffs? Not at all. Having them as a major bowl partner when we win the ACCCG improves that a ton. It's a win-win.
Granted, as a purist I'm still irked by the special treatment that ND has always enjoyed in the media and polls and this only exasberates this - but as a realist I can see the benefits to the ACC in general and VT in particular. And I'm willing to make that trade -- yes, it's a sellout... but that has already be forced by the massive shift in focus of CFB from great rivalries and on field play to the chase for $$s.

I would hate that. Seriously, H-A-T-E that agreement.

So you're proposing the champion of a 14 team league should be paired with ONE team going forward in a bowl. What a bad, bad precedent. You're now saying our entire conference as a whole is worth the same to college football as one institution. We split the proceeds from that bowl over 14 teams, while ND gets to keep their half to themselves. Mind you, this agreement would also be with a program that hasn't been relevant on the field in close to 20 years.

That would be a horrible move on the ACC's part. Would be completely short-sighted and we'd deserve to completely fall from relevancy if we did that.

[VT8207]

I would hate that. Seriously, H-A-T-E that agreement.

So you're proposing the champion of a 14 team league should be paired with ONE team going forward in a bowl. What a bad, bad precedent. You're now saying our entire conference as a whole is worth the same to college football as one institution. We split the proceeds from that bowl over 14 teams, while ND gets to keep their half to themselves. Mind you, this agreement would also be with a program that hasn't been relevant on the field in close to 20 years.

That would be a horrible move on the ACC's part. Would be completely short-sighted and we'd deserve to completely fall from relevancy if we did that.

I'm not saying the ACC is work the same to CFB as ND. I'm saying a New Years Day Game with ND would be just as attractive as the B12/SEC pairing. also, I'm not sold that the revenue split would have to be 50/50 - for exactly the same reason you state. That part can be negotiated. The ND program may not have been relevant for 20 years, but it sure brings eyeballs to the TVs - and that is $$$. Also, it would be much more interesting to listen to the build up of how great ND is every year, and then to watch the Hokies dismantle them in front of a national audience. Beats watching us jump on a middlin Louisville/Cincy/UCONN team yet again,,, with lousy game attendance in front of a TV audience that numbers in the hundreds??? Facetious yes, but you get my point.

[Maroon Baboon]

If neither the ACC champ or ND are involved in the Final 4, that would be great. I mentioned that yesterday in a post, so we are thinking along the same lines. If I understand it correctly, the B12-SEC deal is for the teams that don't make the Final 4 as well. So even if ND has 5 losses, it won'y matter since everything other than the Final 4 is a glorified exhibition game.

I think the SEC champion vs. B12 champion New Years Day bowl game has created a real opportunity for the ACC and Notre Dame. With the pending 4 team playoff upcoming and the format yet to be determined, both the ACC and ND need to find a way to consistently make this playoff if we are to remain relevant in college football.
A bowl alignment between the ACC and Notre Dame would provide for that relevancy and provide each partner with some critical benefits.

ND would be able to remain an independant - which they apparently very much prefer or they would already be in a conference, plus lock in an annual prestige and big money bowl.

The ACC would have a windfall bowl game every year locked up - regardless of what happens to the BCS.

The winners of the Rose Bowl (Pac10 vs Big 10), SEC vs. Big 12, and ACC vs. ND fill three of the 4 slots. The fourth slot would be the de facto At Large, keeping the senators from Utah and other "little sisters" quiet as that provides a seat at the table based on merit.

With this scenario, I would expect most years would have teams from 4 separate conferences in the playoff - and I see very little chance that any one conference (ala SEC) would be able to place 2 or more teams in the playoff on a consistent basis as the loser of the Championship games would likely fall out of the top 5 with a loss to a team outside their conference that late in the season.

This would mean the playoff could not be seeded until these games were played - so the season extends a couple weeks. That's the rub -- but the tradeoffs would be well worth it.

[EAMHokie94]

I am not in favor of giving ND any special dispensation. You take away all the Notre Dame Rules and they are forced to join a conference like the rest of us.

[Maroon Baboon]

This has nothing to do with a national championship and everything to do with an exhibition game at the end of the year. We are taking about teams that don't make the Final 4. Say what you want about ND, but people want to see them. Who would you rather see us play in the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame or Cincinnati? Let the bowls pick who they want. It actually makes for better match-ups. No more OU-UConns.

I am not in favor of giving ND any special dispensation. You take away all the Notre Dame Rules and they are forced to join a conference like the rest of us.

[VT8207]

I am not in favor of giving ND any special dispensation. You take away all the Notre Dame Rules and they are forced to join a conference like the rest of us.

None of us like the special treatment that ND gets. None of us can do a damn thing about it. Pick your battles - no one will force ND join a conference until ND wants to join a conference.

[VT_JustinGlass]

But wouldn't that require ND to not join the ACC. The ACC wouldn't be able to "cash in" on ND branding during the regular season... Just the bowl game. So the income disparity continues.

I think the SEC champion vs. B12 champion New Years Day bowl game has created a real opportunity for the ACC and Notre Dame. With the pending 4 team playoff upcoming and the format yet to be determined, both the ACC and ND need to find a way to consistently make this playoff if we are to remain relevant in college football.
A bowl alignment between the ACC and Notre Dame would provide for that relevancy and provide each partner with some critical benefits.

ND would be able to remain an independant - which they apparently very much prefer or they would already be in a conference, plus lock in an annual prestige and big money bowl.

The ACC would have a windfall bowl game every year locked up - regardless of what happens to the BCS.

The winners of the Rose Bowl (Pac10 vs Big 10), SEC vs. Big 12, and ACC vs. ND fill three of the 4 slots. The fourth slot would be the de facto At Large, keeping the senators from Utah and other "little sisters" quiet as that provides a seat at the table based on merit.

With this scenario, I would expect most years would have teams from 4 separate conferences in the playoff - and I see very little chance that any one conference (ala SEC) would be able to place 2 or more teams in the playoff on a consistent basis as the loser of the Championship games would likely fall out of the top 5 with a loss to a team outside their conference that late in the season.

This would mean the playoff could not be seeded until these games were played - so the season extends a couple weeks. That's the rub -- but the tradeoffs would be well worth it.