How long before the AAC implodes?

by **Red** » December 10th, 2018, 2:02 pm

Why would any of the schools with even a remote chance at dumping the AAC commit to this? And there's zero chance that UCF or Cincy would ever in my opinion. To bring it back closer to home, where does the kowtowing to the football schools leave WSU?

The American Athletic Conference’s schools are considering a long-term commitment that will keep the AAC intact and make its media package more attractive.

The conference is asking schools to sign a grant-of-rights agreement that theoretically would lock them into the conference for the duration of the next media rights deal.

The AAC’s current seven-year, $126 million package with ESPN expires in 2020. A new deal could be three to four times higher, but only if the top AAC schools commit to stay in the conference, sources said.

By committing to stay in the AAC, those schools sacrifice the opportunity to jump to a more lucrative arrangement if a power five league like the Big 12 decides to expand. In return, those schools will get a bigger share of the conference’s revenue from its next media deal. The schools also get the stability that comes with a long-term commitment.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Jou ... s/AAC.aspx

**Sponsor**

by **Jsnhbe1Birds** » December 10th, 2018, 2:34 pm

It's pretty much a given ucf, Cincy, Houston will move up at some point. Good chance UConn and nemohis will too. Since it's s football conference they will want fbs teams so they'll be raiding the sun belt and cusa. Nobody worth anything in basketball there really. We're talking like Tulsa, Appalachian state. I get why wichta moved but they will regret it in the long run. They aren't getting that big east bid they think they're going to. Maybe an a-10 bid at best. I honestly could see them asking back in to the MVC at some point unless they're he'll bent on the a-10. Also, Elgin can see it too. Maybe they're content waiting 10-15 years an adding them with Murray. Or just waiting on Belmont until they cave. Or St Louis once Dayton gets into the big east. I don't buy that while Xavier excuse.

by **IWokeUpLikeThis** » December 10th, 2018, 6:00 pm

Very long. P65 want to keep their club as exclusive as possible. You’ll see a few AAC teams in BXII call-up duty in 5 years but that’s it.

Tulsa, Tulane, Temple, SMU, Wichita, ECU, & Aresco will sign that GOR. Maybe Navy, Memphis, & USF. UConn, UCF, Cincy, & Houston won’t tie their hands behind their back.

You’d have to not understand the basics of how realignment works to think Wichita could ever be in the MVC again. Realignment trickles down, not up. More importantly, Wichita identifies with urban schools. The presidential level is where realignment happens.

by **VUGrad1314** » December 10th, 2018, 7:11 pm

My understanding is that the GOR must be unanimously approved and that it is an unequal revenue distribution in which UCONN does not share in the top half. If that's the case get ready for UCONN to bolt even if it means taking football independent. Once that happens Army is the logical callup which means A10 teams like VCU SLU and Dayton better be on standby. You have to wonder at what point the travel expenses cease to be worth it for SLU if they aren't picked. That said a whole host of things could happen as soon as a few months from now. The AAC potentially upsetting UCONN in light of the BE's extension with MSG and their commissioner's comments have made things very interesting.

by **Jsnhbe1Birds** » December 10th, 2018, 7:48 pm

Once thd ncaa loses their case, which is expected, it sill allow conferences to make their own rules basically negating the ncaa. That's when realignment hell will break loose. Anything and everything is on the table

by **VUGrad1314** » December 11th, 2018, 3:32 pm

Hoo boy...

https://theathletic.com/706227/2018/12/ ... -football/

by **IWokeUpLikeThis** » December 11th, 2018, 4:44 pm

That isn’t news. It’s an opinion article.

by **VUGrad1314** » December 11th, 2018, 5:14 pm

Right but it speaks to the apparent instability of the conference and it's easy to see the benefits of having access to Florida for recruiting purposes. The Big XII might go for this.

by **IWokeUpLikeThis** » December 11th, 2018, 6:14 pm

No, opinion pieces do not speak to the stability or instability of anything. They ultimately hold no value. They impact and indicate things as much as the two of us farting on this message board - zilch.

For an article to hold realignment value, it needs to report some sort of news with sources.

Otherwise, you’re grasping at straws and looking for news where there isn’t any.

by **TheAsianSensation** » December 11th, 2018, 6:25 pm

Everyone should just take five on realignment talk for about 5 or so years. No one's really going to do anything unless one of the power 5 makes a move. That'll be the Big 12 when their GoR runs out around 2025ish.

No GoR will be signed by the AAC that extends beyond the Big 12's GoR. Full stop.