As the Big Ten and SEC are determined to expand their conferences and create revenue streams that will eclipse the rest of Power 5 college athletics in years to come, other leagues are racing to keep up.
An attempt involves Clemson. The ACC and the Pac-12 create a “loose partnership” according to a CBS Sports report. Both conferences hope to strengthen their position on television rights and make more money.
The ACC proposed the idea, and the two leagues could play crossover games and possibly a “championship game” in Las Vegas, according to the report.
Scroll to continue
It could help conferences stay relevant in terms of power in college football, but it remains to be seen whether ESPN and whoever the Pac-12 is negotiating with for a new media deal will get enough money to compete. with the Big Ten and SECOND.
These two leagues are expected to earn close to or more than $100 million per team per season once their new deals in their respective 16-team conferences are completed. The gap between the Big Ten and the SEC and the ACC is going to approach $50 million a year, at least.
The ACC is probably trying to convince its members to stay in the league and not leave for greener pastures if the SEC or the Big Ten are interested. These attempts could be in vain. The conference football powerhouses, however, must do what is best for them. Losing a Clemson or a Florida State could remove the ACC from a position of power.
As for the Pac-12, it’s looking to ward off the Big 12, which is out to poach West Coast teams worried about the upcoming TV deal. Its current contract with Fox ends in 2024, and the conference attempted to negotiate the rights of its 10 remaining teams on Tuesday.
Want to participate in the discussion? 100% FREE! Interact with other Tiger fans and hear directly from Editor Zach Lentz, Associate Editor Brad Senkiw, Recruiting Analyst Jason Priester, and Writer Will Vandervort on any topic. Click here to become a member of the ALL CLEMSON message board community today!