There’s a lot to unpack in the new playoff scenario, and there are a lot of comments regarding the impact of the new system on ND as they basically gave up the possibility of ever being a top 4 seeded team in the new system to remain independent, but they also don’t have to deal with a CCG. However, most pundits believe that ND’s access to the playoffs is at worst the same, but most likely have improved. (Just thought I would add that ND’s historical record in CCG games is 0-1.)
The ACC needs to fix its regular schedule as they deal with their revenue shortfall compared to other conferences, and conference TV contracts give little value to OOC games. ESPN strongly suggested that the ACC go to a 9 game schedule, but one reason that FSU and CU opposed it was the reality that in 2 out of every 5 or 6 years, they play an SEC team and ND. Going to a 9 game conference schedule basically gives them only one OOC opening in those years.
But there’s more to it than that. If ND is ranked 10, 11 or 12 before the CCG games are played, those games may have a material impact on the final playoff rankings. All they have to worry about is that something weird doesn’t happen (while they sit at home) that a bunch of teams ranked lower than 12 somehow sneak into the playoff after the CCG games (mainly due to upsets in the CCG games). However, basically, they avoid the risk of losing a CCG.
I am not making any conclusions, other than this is somewhat of a paradigm shift from the deal that was structured in 2012. For the ACC, their current issue isn’t access to the playoffs. We have had a team in it every year. The issue what does mean to how the ACC manages its regular schedule as it tries to find a way to get more revenue out of its TV contract that ends in 2035.
I don’t believe that we would have structured the current deal if the new playoff proposal actually existed in 2012. True, if FSU loses to ND in 2021, it has no impact on FSU getting to the ACC champ game. But it also means that there’s no chance of a rematch. It just seems like the playoff system has made the regular season a lot more interesting for the regular season conference games, and that makes ND’s independence more weird.
I am just raising a point of consideration. ND must be in a conference for its non football sports. It knew that when it was in the Big East. They always put the carrot out there that they might join for football, but seriously, does the ACC need ND for the non football sports? And if not, why are we doing this, when they don’t even use our “network partner” for their home games? But I want to stress that I am not ”finding a way” for ND to lose its independence. I think all conferences will evaluate how their regular season conference schedules should work as the new system has elevated the status of the ”conference champion” (point of clarity - the winner of the CCG does not get an automatic bid…it is the “highest ranked” conference team. But no doubt, that CCG is now going to impact who the highest ranked team is). One wonders if divisions will remain the same. Will conferences insist that the CCG game be the top two teams regardless of division. Alas, in the proposal, ND won‘t be worrying about that.
What would the ACC do if it dropped ND?
The ACC needs to fix its regular schedule as they deal with their revenue shortfall compared to other conferences, and conference TV contracts give little value to OOC games. ESPN strongly suggested that the ACC go to a 9 game schedule, but one reason that FSU and CU opposed it was the reality that in 2 out of every 5 or 6 years, they play an SEC team and ND. Going to a 9 game conference schedule basically gives them only one OOC opening in those years.
But there’s more to it than that. If ND is ranked 10, 11 or 12 before the CCG games are played, those games may have a material impact on the final playoff rankings. All they have to worry about is that something weird doesn’t happen (while they sit at home) that a bunch of teams ranked lower than 12 somehow sneak into the playoff after the CCG games (mainly due to upsets in the CCG games). However, basically, they avoid the risk of losing a CCG.
I am not making any conclusions, other than this is somewhat of a paradigm shift from the deal that was structured in 2012. For the ACC, their current issue isn’t access to the playoffs. We have had a team in it every year. The issue what does mean to how the ACC manages its regular schedule as it tries to find a way to get more revenue out of its TV contract that ends in 2035.
I don’t believe that we would have structured the current deal if the new playoff proposal actually existed in 2012. True, if FSU loses to ND in 2021, it has no impact on FSU getting to the ACC champ game. But it also means that there’s no chance of a rematch. It just seems like the playoff system has made the regular season a lot more interesting for the regular season conference games, and that makes ND’s independence more weird.
I am just raising a point of consideration. ND must be in a conference for its non football sports. It knew that when it was in the Big East. They always put the carrot out there that they might join for football, but seriously, does the ACC need ND for the non football sports? And if not, why are we doing this, when they don’t even use our “network partner” for their home games? But I want to stress that I am not ”finding a way” for ND to lose its independence. I think all conferences will evaluate how their regular season conference schedules should work as the new system has elevated the status of the ”conference champion” (point of clarity - the winner of the CCG does not get an automatic bid…it is the “highest ranked” conference team. But no doubt, that CCG is now going to impact who the highest ranked team is). One wonders if divisions will remain the same. Will conferences insist that the CCG game be the top two teams regardless of division. Alas, in the proposal, ND won‘t be worrying about that.
What would the ACC do if it dropped ND?
