MEGA Conference Realignment and lawsuits Megathread: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations

[Rellyrell]

Before ppl start pouring champagne on themselves saying “seeee, I told u”, did anyone remotely read the article? Don’t worry, I’ll TLDR it for u:

They’re trying to position themselves as 1st in lines in the event IF realignment takes place. Here’s the most important part:

“Inside Carolina sources reportedly named the SEC as the conference “the Tar Heels are aiming” to land, should it ultimately exit the ACC. The ACC’s exit fees drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year, which “would figure to become an important final line of demarcation, if the Tar Heels haven’t made their departure (from the ACC) sooner,” per Inside Carolina.

So several things:

1. The SEC & B1G TV deals aren’t up yet & won’t be for a couple more yrs

2. The board members + TV partners would need to agree on re-alignment

3. UNC is being proactive to position itself as a potential destination

4. B/c of 1 & 2, this most likely won’t happen until 2030.

The issue is the SEC media rights don’t renew until 2033. So there’s some logistics that needs to be discussed which is y UNC’s Board is vetting to potentially prepare to bounce.

 

[SinisterCane]

Sooner than that

2028

 

[Rickd]

Nothing is happening until close to 2030.

Avoid the click bait.

Look for schools to announce in 2026 for departure in 27 or 28. Depends on when the media partners will accept them joining conferences as they have to program the game slots and have $$.

 

[Gocanes1990]

2028

Yes, announcements will be within the next 6 months probably similar to Texas and Ou

 

[TheOGCane]

Yes, announcements will be within the next 6 months probably similar to Texas and Ou

!RemindMe January 24, 2026 9:19 pm

 

[NorthernVirginiaCane]

Or maybe sometime in 2026. Spring or June.

Probably between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.

Or maybe just look at the horoscope of a loved one who is an Aries or Taurus or Gemini.

Or maybe we’ll have a baseball team to care about then.

But definitely, definitely do not fall for the clickbait.

Even the stupid click bait article, buried after the provocative headline, mentioned the likely 2030 timeline.

 

[Empirical Cane]

This is 100% on point. Frenk’s best quality, according to people I know who worked with him, is that he was genuinely a nice guy and decent boss. Expert in his field, but below average in other areas that a UM president needs to be adept in.

As for Joe E., the reviews are hit or miss. Some people love him, some people can’t stand him. The ones that can’t stand him don’t like that he’s running UM like a mini Deloitte. He’s also a guy that very much believes in a hierarchy, which means that access to him is far more restricted than it was with Frenk or Shalala.

Then he muat be doing it very well then of he's piaaing off beta academic parasites.

 

[CaneinBroward]

Before ppl start pouring champagne on themselves saying “seeee, I told u”, did anyone remotely read the article? Don’t worry, I’ll TLDR it for u:

They’re trying to position themselves as 1st in lines in the event IF realignment takes place. Here’s the most important part:

“Inside Carolina sources reportedly named the SEC as the conference “the Tar Heels are aiming” to land, should it ultimately exit the ACC. The ACC’s exit fees drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year, which “would figure to become an important final line of demarcation, if the Tar Heels haven’t made their departure (from the ACC) sooner,” per Inside Carolina.

So several things:

1. The SEC & B1G TV deals aren’t up yet & won’t be for a couple more yrs

2. The board members + TV partners would need to agree on re-alignment

3. UNC is being proactive to position itself as a potential destination

4. B/c of 1 & 2, this most likely won’t happen until 2030.

The issue is the SEC media rights don’t renew until 2033. So there’s some logistics that needs to be discussed which is y UNC’s Board is vetting to potentially prepare to bounce.

Yeah, until the story reads "The SEC is looking expand" or "The SEC is looking at UNC", it's just more of the same.

Psst, there are rumors FSU and Clemson are looking to bolt from the ACC and want to make themselves look good to the SEC and/or B1G. I know this is the first time everyone is hearing this so keep it on the down low.

 

[Calinative]

This will be interesting to see if it effects us and who gets ESPN broadcasts if they are giving priority to UNC, because now this directly impacts the ACC pay distributions. Whoever gets more optimal ESPN/ABC broadcasts will get better viewership.

 

[Canesfan1993]

Before ppl start pouring champagne on themselves saying “seeee, I told u”, did anyone remotely read the article? Don’t worry, I’ll TLDR it for u:

They’re trying to position themselves as 1st in lines in the event IF realignment takes place. Here’s the most important part:

“Inside Carolina sources reportedly named the SEC as the conference “the Tar Heels are aiming” to land, should it ultimately exit the ACC. The ACC’s exit fees drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year, which “would figure to become an important final line of demarcation, if the Tar Heels haven’t made their departure (from the ACC) sooner,” per Inside Carolina.

So several things:

1. The SEC & B1G TV deals aren’t up yet & won’t be for a couple more yrs

2. The board members + TV partners would need to agree on re-alignment

3. UNC is being proactive to position itself as a potential destination

4. B/c of 1 & 2, this most likely won’t happen until 2030.

The issue is the SEC media rights don’t renew until 2033. So there’s some logistics that needs to be discussed which is y UNC’s Board is vetting to potentially prepare to bounce.

Per you point 1: like maybe adding an additional conference game along with extra playin games that come with a new CFP format?
And Per 2: the UNC BOG will not be as favorable to SEC in 18 months as they are now.
Everyone should chill until next may. Lots of things need to happen first like cfp format and governance/house settlement enforcement/federal legislation before the music stops but it wont be playing till 2030 and miami isnt sitting on the sidelines.

 

[CaneinBroward]

This will be interesting to see if it effects us and who gets ESPN broadcasts if they are giving priority to UNC, because now this directly impacts the ACC pay distributions. Whoever gets more optimal ESPN/ABC broadcasts will get better viewership.

If any ACC team is in the top half of the league, wouldn't it go without saying that 8 of their first 10 games will be shown on an ESPN network? I mean, ESPN+ is an ESPN network. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me just based on that.

However, if Bill brings Tom Brady and other ex-players and celebs to be on the sideline of a Thursday night game, that could boost their ratings. Or if the trophy gf goes to every game and is given a seat in full view of the cameras that could pull in some viewers as well.

 

[caneingville]

Even the stupid click bait article, buried after the provocative headline, mentioned the likely 2030 timeline.

Oh, I know what you were doing. I was just poking fun at this thread and general shenanigans.

 

[Calinative]

If any ACC team is in the top half of the league, wouldn't it go without saying that 8 of their first 10 games will be shown on an ESPN network? I mean, ESPN+ is an ESPN network. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me just based on that.

However, if Bill brings Tom Brady and other ex-players and celebs to be on the sideline of a Thursday night game, that could boost their ratings. Or if the trophy gf goes to every game and is given a seat in full view of the cameras that could pull in some viewers as well.

Uh are you making the assumption that only ACC games are broadcast on ESPN or something? You know that the SECs main broadcasting partner is ESPN, right? You know ESPN has some rights to broadcast B12 games too, right?...

Just think about this logically. ESPN has like four timeslots for games, 9, 12:30, 4, 7:30. And obviously the later times get the higher viewership in general. The Channels that get the most Views are ABC and ESPN. Then ESPN2 is a gap from those two, and then there is a major gap between those 3 and like ACCN, ESPNU, ESPNnews, ESPN+, etc. The amount of viewership/ratings directly correlates to ACC media distributions now. Being on ESPN or ABC EVERY WEEK would absolutely go a very long way to having guaranteed high ratings, regardless of opponent. Now maybe this report is more meaning they'll be on TV in general and not ESPN+ and that is more referring to ESPNU/ACCN and the like. Idk, but if it in fact is referring to ESPN2 or above that's pretty impactful.

4 timeslots * 2 Highest rating Channels * 14 weeks = 112 highest viewership slots. I mean what, the ACC is likely to get 33% of those top slots vs the SEC, at best? So we're talking 38 slots? Imagine having 38 ESPN+ABC slot for the ACC for the year and UNC getting 10 of them...Imagine they just get 10 ESPN2 slots instead. That'd still be a lot and actually have an impact on payouts. Now hopefully it just means they are going to get the preferred slot on like ACCN/ESPNU and relegating someone like Pitt to ESPN+ and ****...

 

[NorthernVirginiaCane]

Oh, I know what you were doing. I was just poking fun at this thread and general shenanigans.

It's pretty funny. If you read back these twenty thousand pages, you will see me arguing with the same idiots so many times.

They say miami is leaving by 2024. With absolute certainty! Lol. Because they are an attorney or a TV executive or something other than the truth that they are sitting in their mom's basement. I reply, I doubt anything is happening until 2030.

They say miami is leaving by 2025. I reply, I doubt anything is happening until 2030.

They say miami is leaving by 2026. I reply, I don't think anything is happening until 2030.

Etc, also with fsu and Clemson.

Lots of dumb here.

 

[caneingville]

Uh are you making the assumption that only ACC games are broadcast on ESPN or something? You know that the SECs main broadcasting partner is ESPN, right? You know ESPN has some rights to broadcast B12 games too, right?...

Just think about this logically. ESPN has like four timeslots for games, 9, 12:30, 4, 7:30. And obviously the later times get the higher viewership in general. The Channels that get the most Views are ABC and ESPN. Then ESPN2 is a gap from those two, and then there is a major gap between those 3 and like ACCN, ESPNU, ESPNnews, ESPN+, etc. The amount of viewership/ratings directly correlates to ACC media distributions now. Being on ESPN or ABC EVERY WEEK would absolutely go a very long way to having guaranteed high ratings, regardless of opponent. Now maybe this report is more meaning they'll be on TV in general and not ESPN+ and that is more referring to ESPNU/ACCN and the like. Idk, but if it in fact is referring to ESPN2 or above that's pretty impactful.

4 timeslots * 2 Highest rating Channels * 14 weeks = 112 highest viewership slots. I mean what, the ACC is likely to get 33% of those top slots vs the SEC, at best? So we're talking 38 slots? Imagine having 38 ESPN+ABC slot for the ACC for the year and UNC getting 10 of them...Imagine they just get 10 ESPN2 slots instead. That'd still be a lot and actually have an impact on payouts. Now hopefully it just means they are going to get the preferred slot on like ACCN/ESPNU and relegating someone like Pitt to ESPN+ and ****...

Also the 10:30 game (edit: just realized your 7:30 is our 10:30 so you didn’t leave that out - sorry!!), which I forgot about until I looked up UNC’s schedule to see which games were actually plausible here.

ESPN is already slotted to do the TCU, Cal, and Syracuse games. Charlotte is on ESPN+, and Richmond is on ACCN. (This is per ESPN’s app but I took a screenshot from Google that would fit here since I’m on my phone.)

Pretty safe to say Clemson has a good shot of being on ESPN, possibly UCF too. So there’s seven. And then you have UVA, NC State, Duke, Stanford, and Wake that will probably take up random ACCN slots.

So I think you bring up good points, but given that their schedule sucks, it won’t be too bad. People will tune in for that TCU game to see Belichick (and they are playing each other again next year in Ireland), but they won’t watch Charlotte and Richmond after that. And we have ND that weekend and no other games on at the same time.

 

[caneingville]

It's pretty funny. If you read back these twenty thousand pages, you will see me arguing with the same idiots so many times.

They say miami is leaving by 2024. With absolute certainty! Lol. Because they are an attorney or a TV executive or something other than the truth that they are sitting in their mom's basement. I reply, I doubt anything is happening until 2030.

They say miami is leaving by 2025. I reply, I doubt anything is happening until 2030.

They say miami is leaving by 2026. I reply, I don't think anything is happening until 2030.

Etc, also with fsu and Clemson.

Lots of dumb here.

I choose to believe that it’s lots of passion. We’re all here at the end of the day because we love our Canes.

And none of us will know until we know.

 

[NorthernVirginiaCane]

I choose to believe that it’s lots of passion. We’re all here at the end of the day because we love our Canes.

And none of us will know until we know.

Well, when they guaranty it over and over again, and each deadline passes ... you would think eventually the boy would stop crying wolf. But the "passion" has rotted the brains.

And we did know nothing was going to happen before 2025, because of the ongoing litigation over the GOR. And we know nothing is happening before 2026, because the deadline has passed.

We will see. Key is that college football survives as a national sport, the school doesn't sacrifice its academic prestige and principles, and they have access to the CFP.

 

[CaneinBroward]

Uh are you making the assumption that only ACC games are broadcast on ESPN or something? You know that the SECs main broadcasting partner is ESPN, right? You know ESPN has some rights to broadcast B12 games too, right?...

Just think about this logically. ESPN has like four timeslots for games, 9, 12:30, 4, 7:30. And obviously the later times get the higher viewership in general. The Channels that get the most Views are ABC and ESPN. Then ESPN2 is a gap from those two, and then there is a major gap between those 3 and like ACCN, ESPNU, ESPNnews, ESPN+, etc. The amount of viewership/ratings directly correlates to ACC media distributions now. Being on ESPN or ABC EVERY WEEK would absolutely go a very long way to having guaranteed high ratings, regardless of opponent. Now maybe this report is more meaning they'll be on TV in general and not ESPN+ and that is more referring to ESPNU/ACCN and the like. Idk, but if it in fact is referring to ESPN2 or above that's pretty impactful.

4 timeslots * 2 Highest rating Channels * 14 weeks = 112 highest viewership slots. I mean what, the ACC is likely to get 33% of those top slots vs the SEC, at best? So we're talking 38 slots? Imagine having 38 ESPN+ABC slot for the ACC for the year and UNC getting 10 of them...Imagine they just get 10 ESPN2 slots instead. That'd still be a lot and actually have an impact on payouts. Now hopefully it just means they are going to get the preferred slot on like ACCN/ESPNU and relegating someone like Pitt to ESPN+ and ****...

Uh, no I'm not making that assumption at all. I'm pointing out the fact that the tweet just mentioned ESPN networkS, not ESPN Network by itself, are looking at broadcasting 8 out of 10 of the first UNC games. Now, this could be anything from ABC or ESPN to ACCN or ESPN+ and all the various other channels in between. Now, if UNC is being broadcast on ABC/ESPN 8 out of 10 times, I would say it is definitely worrisome. However, looking at their schedule I'd say 11 out of 12 of their games will be broadcast somewhere on the ESPN menu of channels (8 ACC games, home games with TCU and Richmond, and away game at Charlotte is already listed as an ESPN+ game.

The same could be said about Miami. 8 ACC games, ND, and Florida should be on some ESPN channel and Bethune is scheduled for ACCN already. Only USF is listed as a CW game. It's just clickbait.

 

[Calinative]

Uh, no I'm not making that assumption at all. I'm pointing out the fact that the tweet just mentioned ESPN networkS, not ESPN Network by itself, are looking at broadcasting 8 out of 10 of the first UNC games. Now, this could be anything from ABC or ESPN to ACCN or ESPN+ and all the various other channels in between. Now, if UNC is being broadcast on ABC/ESPN 8 out of 10 times, I would say it is definitely worrisome. However, looking at their schedule I'd say 11 out of 12 of their games will be broadcast somewhere on the ESPN menu of channels (8 ACC games, home games with TCU and Richmond, and away game at Charlotte is already listed as an ESPN+ game.

The same could be said about Miami. 8 ACC games, ND, and Florida should be on some ESPN channel and Bethune is scheduled for ACCN already. Only USF is listed as a CW game. It's just clickbait.

It just seems entirely pointless to say ESPN could broadcast 10 games when ESPN literally is the broadcast partner of the ACC, unless they mean actual national broadcasts that matter - and why Colorado was referenced, who was put on major channels all season. Maybe you're right and it is entirely nothing. But to me I see that and it's like saying ESPN wants UNC at least on ESPN2 level or better for 10 games this season...

They Already have 3 ESPN scheduled games as of today btw... We have 1 on ESPN (friday night louisville) and 1 on ABC (sunday night ND) already scheduled.

 

[Calinative]

Also the 10:30 game (edit: just realized your 7:30 is our 10:30 so you didn’t leave that out - sorry!!), which I forgot about until I looked up UNC’s schedule to see which games were actually plausible here.

ESPN is already slotted to do the TCU, Cal, and Syracuse games. Charlotte is on ESPN+, and Richmond is on ACCN. (This is per ESPN’s app but I took a screenshot from Google that would fit here since I’m on my phone.)

Pretty safe to say Clemson has a good shot of being on ESPN, possibly UCF too. So there’s seven. And then you have UVA, NC State, Duke, Stanford, and Wake that will probably take up random ACCN slots.

So I think you bring up good points, but given that their schedule sucks, it won’t be too bad. People will tune in for that TCU game to see Belichick (and they are playing each other again next year in Ireland), but they won’t watch Charlotte and Richmond after that. And we have ND that weekend and no other games on at the same time.

View attachment 330922

That picture of the schedule is horrible given it doesn't even have the dates for the ACC games lol.
I agree though, As far as their schedule, TCU is already scheduled for ESPN at 5. We aren't competing at all given we play ND on Sunday I believe. Yeah Charlotte and Richmond are ESPN+ and ACCNet. UCF is away game against B12 team so will be a Fox broadcast most likely I'd think - but will probably get a main channel especially if they beat TCU. Next they play Clemson, so that's definitely getting a main broadcast. Next game is At Cal, which is a late night Pacific time game and already scheduled for ESPN. So just off that alone its 6 games, 3 will be on ESPN, and likely another on a main Fox channel.
From there their schedule gets a little worse, but includes their rivalries and some programs that also have easy schedules and so may have solid records. ivalry game against UVA. Syracuse is already scheduled for ESPN at 4:30 on halloween. Maybe next two aren't super big channels (Stanford and Wake). But wouldn't be surprised if Duke is on one given they also have a super easy schedule and have just 2 losses by then, and it's a rivalry game. And then they end with their other major rivalry in NCSt....

So like at minimum I'd bet 5-6 Main ESPN channel games. 1 Fox game. Then maybe another 2-3 ESPN2 level games depending on UNCs record come November...