https://twitter.com/TJAltimore/status/1691865541542113613
Well looky here at who’s #5…!
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Good stuff there.
I really struggle to understand how the value of the current PAC4 with backfill is much better than the current AAC. My guess is that the other 4 P5 conferences have taken who they wanted. These 4 are left. That tells me that their value is less than the Houston’s and Cincy’s that just left the AAC. Just because you think that you are desirable doesn’t make it so. Even with the prestige and Academics, Stanford and Cal are not on the entry list. Know your place with the rest of us.
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That Navy article is good too. A lot of discussion I hadn’t read anywhere else (with actual facts / data):
Still, the American’s additions are about more than the immediate need to preserve the ESPN contract. They are part of a long-term, strategic plan based on demographics. From 2000-2022, Texas gained more than 9 million residents, the most of any state and a 43% increase for what was already the nation’s second-most populous. Number two in that same time frame was Florida. Last year, Charlotte had the fifth-highest numerical growth of any U.S. city. The best players come from where the people are, and the people are increasingly moving into what is now the American’s footprint. The schools entering the league are making new investments in athletics at a time when they will be well-positioned to capitalize on them. If the American can’t get their next set of big brands through expansion, they will have to grow them. When the next television contract is up for bid in 2031-32, the league will hopefully have developed a new set of marquee programs that networks will want.
Barnes admits it will be “tricky” to invite new schools to the rebuilt conference while putting together a media rights deal.
Ya think? I like how the article downplayed that enormously important point. Unless one of the big media partners, and I’m still not sold on Apple due to no linear component, basically decides to sponsor this little rebuild endeavor, it’s going nowhere fast. And what would ESPN’s motivation be, especially as to AAC programs that it already has under contract for 9 more years at a very manageable price? Push to have them move over to the PAC so they can pay them about 2.5x more?
Stanford is key to the movement, but right there with them is whether any media partners are interested in doing anything to help the PAC4 out.
In this ruthless day and age, I could see TV partners forcing them into a G5 league and paying them a discounted fee.
https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/1691662722042380368
This was such high quality that it had to be shared. 
Also, disregarding my comments about who is going to pay for the rebuild, I cannot knock this logic, even if it hurts the American:
I have to admit that this makes a ton of sense.
And they continue to overestimate their worth.
If the PAC rebuilds it will likely be with these teams. Problem is they will have to wait until after the 2026 football season when the MWC larger buyout fee subsides. SMU won’t have any problem buying their way out of the AAC but will Rice and Tulane? Also, what kind of TV deal could the new PAC sign? The TV money isn’t flowing nearly as freely as it was even five years ago. I was just listening to the College Football Enquirer podcast and they don’t think an even rebuilt PAC will maintain their Autonomous 5 status.
clt says ask boston college and lville about moving to the acc
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clt says keep this quiet but lutz is meeting with aac and pac4 folks currently
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And Pitt. I don’t think the fans dig it
I was happy that fsu seemed to be in a football program resurgence…but all their whining has become extremely off-putting.