ACC presidents to meet about expansion, and possibly to add Stanford and others
On Monday evening, ACC presidents are scheduled to meet on a call to not only discuss possible expansion but also to possibly take a vote on the additions of Cal, SMU, and Stanford.
Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported that the ACC is nearing what looks to be the end of the discussion phase, and entering the take action phase. When the conference took an unofficial vote a couple weeks ago gauging the temperature of where everyone stood, Stanford and Cal came up one vote short of entry. They need one of Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina or NC State to change their minds.
In order to help their case in joining the conference, Stanford and Cal are expected to take a discount in terms of media rights revenue while SMU is reportedly willing to join the conference for free for at least seven years. As explained by Dellenger, by forgoing a larger chunk of the media rights shares, it will in effect free up more than $50 million annually from ESPN. This will allow the ACC to figure out ways to incentivize unhappy programs that have been clamoring for more money.
While many people haven't been viewing this move as one that benefits each party, Dellenger explained the appeal for the ACC.
If the ACC does expand, there are some perks for ESPN, too. The network would retain SMU’s broadcasting rights (it now owns the Mustangs' rights as part of the American Athletic Conference package) and regain the rights of Stanford and Cal. ESPN would also receive an increase in in-network rates for now having schools reside in California and Texas.
Monday night very much can determine the landscape of college football.
