ESPN expert details possible ACC departures, reveals possible way to keep them

After the Big Ten raided the Pac-12 with a lightning quick acquisition of USC and UCLA, the college athletics world turned its attention to the next targets for expansion. After Texas and Oklahoma kicked things off last summer by announcing a move to the SEC, the possibility of the super conference leaves the ACC in an awkward position.

Having just agreed to a new television deal which – in theory – kept all existing members locked down for the foreseeable future, the conference is already looking over its shoulder at the Big Ten and SEC’s alleged plan for further expansion.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel recently evaluated the position the ACC finds itself in trying to hold the likes of Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina and Virginia (along with Notre Dame in some sports) from jumping ship to a super conference.

“For the ACC to keep Clemson, North Carolina, Miami, Florida State and Virginia happy — those would be the most logical targets for the SEC or Big Ten — may mean that the league will have to engage in some type of conversation about unequal revenue sharing,” wrote Thamel.

The teams with value to the expanding super conferences of the Big Ten and SEC would have increased leverage thanks to the significant increase in yearly revenue they would make. Despite a hefty penalty for leaving, without a larger slice of the ACC pie the cost of staying might become too high in lost revenue and opportunity.

Pete Thamel on possible ACC departures

As the ACC watched the Big 12 scramble to pick up pieces by adding Group of Five schools like BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF last season, they will understandably engage every potential option to avoid falling into a second tier.

Now, as the Pac-12 risks losing more schools to the Big Ten or even the Big 12, the pressure is mounting to salvage a spot alongside the two conferences which seem to add who they want rather than fall victim.

“Informal conversations about unequal revenue sharing have come up recently in the ACC, according to sources, and the urgency to give the big brands an opportunity for added revenue will likely only increase,” wrote Thamel. “It could also double as a lure to keep them from periscoping around for new addresses, but the history of unequal revenue sharing is that it’s not sustainable.”

Facing a number of bad options, without getting involved with a surprise coup of its own, the viable options for the ACC appear to be limited. However, the new television deal is better than nothing and at least presents an option to pitch new solutions.