Been listening to a bunch of stuff, and talking to a lot of people.
Still very confident on Miami's position.
What I'm coming around to in the last 5 days is the concept that the Big 10 might go REALLY big. And that, perhaps, the SEC is really stuck on being a regional conference with a flagship-school fetish.
Setting aside all the one-off rumors...the fake Twitter accounts...the obviously self-centered fake rumors coming out of certain schools...
I can acknowledge that an "8-team bump" could happen. Particularly if Cal, Stanford, Washington, and Oregon take half-shares. And there is no way in **** that the Big 10 will completely bypass the southeast, and are likely to take 4 out of Miami, F$U, Clemson, North Carolina, GaTech, and possibly UVa or Pitt.
Keep in mind...I told people to keep their eyes on Cal/Stanford when
@calinative umstudent was spewing his Oregon love. And I have pointed out that Clemson is gunning for academic respectability (AAU/Big 10) and that F$U and UNC were ****-gobbling wildcards.
In particular...if the Big 10 goes to a full 24...and they need more time slots/channels...then taking 4 from the ACC gets them a niche/limited spot on ESPN, particularly if they demand premium spots and they bring the GOR rights over without there having to be a buyout. Oh, and also...ESPN gets some Big 10 teams (by default) when they play at Miami, at F$U, at Clemson, and at anyone else.
Also, and this should go without saying...Notre Dame is ABSOLUTELY going to be doing a scheduling deal with the Big 10. Beyond obvious.
Finally, as I've been saying all along..."cord-cutting" has been vastly overrated. Big networks are still interested in live-broadcast college football, as long as it's not Iowa State vs. Duke.