The Confidential

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12 Jul 2012
12 Comments

Penn State, the Death Penalty, and Such

The long-awaited Freeh report is out in public.  This allows everyone to start debating Penn State.  Some have even thrown around the idea of the death penalty for Penn State.  There are too many writers suggesting that to bother citing to any one of them.  The Confidential does not want to minimize what happened at Penn State, but fails to see how the death penalty serves anyone’s interests.

Nobody wins if Penn State football is killed.  Penn State and its fans obviously lose.  The Big 10 loses.  Anyone who enjoys playing and defeating (whether often or not) Penn State loses.  The NCAA loses–demonstrating that it cannot prevent wrongful conduct, only punish it long after it occurs.  Seriously, who wins?

Most importantly, there are victims of these crimes.  These victims have friends and relatives.  These victims want justice, surely, but do not want to be responsible for the death of the Penn State football program that entertains so many people they know and care about, and is so integral to local life.  The victims have suffered enough.

A better justice for these victims would be a cleaned-up Penn State program that takes the lead on preventing this from happening again anywhere.  Actually, there is a rather obvious institutional problem as it relates to sexual abuse, especially child sexual abuse.  People do not want to believe that colleagues, particularly respected colleagues, can be abusive.  This is not limited to football programs, but happens in churches, businesses, and government.  However, there are some very smart people who get paid to research at Penn State.  Perhaps Penn State could devote some significant resources from its Big Ten television revenue to putting its smartest sociologist, psychologist and business minds together on how to create an institutional system that allows for a rational, proper response to accusations of sexual abuse.  Not laws or regulations that defer responsibility to the government, but a system that allows entities to self-police long before it reaches the stage of punishment.  This would not be as financially lucrative as sucking on the teat of Monsanto, but this would be Penn State’s greatest gift to the victims–preventing future victims in more places than merely Penn State.

If the NCAA wants to kill Penn State football, it can.  Then we can start talking about what happens next in the conference scheme.  Frankly, the Confidential thinks that those discussions are designed more to inflame passions and entice viewership than any real possibility of the NCAA implementing the death penalty.  The problem is that arguments can detract from solutions.  Until Penn State folks stop worrying about legacies, can anything good be accomplished.  Non-Penn State folks need to stop provoking the Penn State folks.  And so on.

The Confidential has never much cared for Penn State.  They belonged in the Big East.  They would fit nicely in the ACC today.  But that does not mean that it supports the death of its football program.  And without an explanation as to how it benefits all, or even anyone, the Confidential cannot support it.  Punishment can be cathartic, but it can also be pointless.

Posted by acaffrey in Football and tagged , , ,
11 Jul 2012

Notre Dame, the Orange Bowl, and the ACC

Previously, the Confidential noted that the ACC signed a new deal with the Orange Bowl securing its status within the power structure of college football.  Of course, the most important aspect was that the ACC gets to keep the TV revenue.  The latest word is that Notre Dame is in discussions with the Orange Bowl to make regular appearances.  There is also Internet talk as to whether Notre Dame is considering a relationship with the ACC that would allow several games a year between ACC teams and the Fighting Irish.  This is, again, all good news for the ACC.

First, the decision to pair up Notre Dame with the Orange Bowl makes complete sense.  For the Orange Bowl, a 10-2 Notre Dame team trumps any other ten-win team in the country and most 11 win teams.  Even if Notre Dame is unfairly selected, the buzz alone will be worth the trouble.  People will care, even if it is simply to root against Notre Dame.  For the ACC, having Notre Dame as an opponent makes great sense too.  Notre Dame is located in Indiana, but the heart of its fan base is nationwide and certainly heavy along the Eastern seaboard–locations where the ACC has a presence.  Given that the ACC controls the TV revenue, having a 10-2 Notre Dame in the game is much more lucrative than just about any other conceivable opponent.  For Notre Dame, it once again shows that it can remain fully relevant without the shackles of a full-time conference affiliation.  All it has to do is win 10 games and it is in a lucrative bowl.  And if it does better, it will not be in the Orange Bowl, but playing for a national title.  A classic win-win, albeit a win-win-win.

Second, the ClemsonInsider (www.clemsoninsider.com) has the following interesting snippet posted:

For several months TheClemsonInsider.com has been telling its members that the chances of Notre Dame joining the ACC were much higher than Clemson leaving for the Big 12.  The ACC has been courting the Irish for a long time but those discussions picked up over the past few months as we’ve reported.

TheClemsonInsider.com has now confirmed with sources close to the situation that the discussions have progressed to the point where Presidents from a number of ACC schools are having discussions with Notre Dame to try to finalize a deal.  The ACC Presidents would love for the Irish to join the ACC as a full member, but they are also interested in other alternatives that could help the league.

Having Notre Dame play four games a year against ACC opponents is yet another win-win.  For ACC teams, having Notre Dame visit is always going to be lucrative at the gate and on television.  It is also helpful for scheduling strength.  Further, it prevents the Big 12 landing Notre Dame in a similar relationship.  For Notre Dame, scheduling is going to get more complex in the future–having an agreement with the ACC will allow more flexibility in that regard.  And, given that Notre Dame often plays at least a few ACC teams per year, there is really not that much of a change.

Of course, it remains to be seen how these two discussions work together.  The potential for a rematch in the Orange Bowl could pose some problems.

But, overall, it looks like Notre Dame is warming up to the ACC as a partner in multiple ways.  While Notre Dame as a full-time member would go a long way towards fixing all that ails the ACC, the ACC is going to have to slow dance with Notre Dame for a while.  Hopefully, it works out better for the ACC than it did for the Big East.  Fortunately, the monetary benefit is far greater for the ACC to do so.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment, Football and tagged , , , , ,
03 Jul 2012
3 Comments

The Orange Bowl Tie-In: An ACC Cash Cow Now

For several years now, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Orange Bowl have had an official tie-in.  That relationship to continue for the near future, as the ACC and the Orange Bowl have reached a 12-year deal, which will carry the relationship through 2026.  While that news is great, the outstanding news is that the ACC also has the right to market the TV revenue from the Orange Bowl:

Sources told Schad that the ACC will negotiate and sell the Orange Bowl TV rights and plans to keep at least 50 percent of the revenue. Whatever network gets the Orange Bowl will get to broadcast it, even when it’s a semifinal.

Thus, not only is the new deal great for ensuring that the ACC will remain at the big boys’ table, it is also a financial cash cow.

Just imagine the ratings and revenue resulting from a Florida State-Notre Dame Orange Bowl.  Or, when the Orange Bowl hosts a semifinal, it will feature two of the top 4 teams in the country.  Again, this is a huge “get” for the ACC leadership.

The Orange Bowl remains the logical landing spot for ACC schools due to its location.  Now it will contribute money even when an ACC school is not playing in the game.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference News, Football and tagged , , , ,
22 Jun 2012
3 Comments

Plea to the ACC: Reconfigure the Divisions!

The Confidential is not very sympathetic to much of what Florida State complains about.  For the most part, they blame the ACC for their own inability to field a top 10 team.  The ACC leadership is merely a scapegoat.  HOWEVER, Florida State does have a legitimate issue regarding the zipper-format that the ACC has used to divide the teams into divisions.  The Confidential renews its plea for the ACC leadership to apply a logical division of the teams primarily based on geography and school type.

As you know, the ACC is currently divided into the following divisions:

Atlantic: Clemson, Florida State, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, Boston College, Maryland, Syracuse (in 2013?)

Coastal: Georgia Tech, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh (2013)

We know these are right because they have been researched.  Yes, one has to check the standings to keep this straight.  If ACC fans and followers have to double-check to know for sure, just think how outsiders consider the ACC.

The logical solution is to do a more pure geographical distribution:

North: BC, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Syracuse, and Miami

South: NC, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, FSU, and Clemson

That is easy to remember.  It’s the northern schools, plus Miami (a northern school in character).  Play 6 games, plus 2-3 cross-divisional games.  Lock-in certain rivalries: Miami-FSU, Virginia-North Carolina, maybe a few others.  Or give everyone a locked-in opponent:  BC-Duke, Syracuse-Wake Forest, Miami-FSU, Clemson-Va Tech, Georgia Tech-Pitt, Maryland-NC State, North Carolina-Virginia.  And then play 1-2 other cross-divisional games.  One could even rotate the “locked-in” game periodically, so that Duke-Syracuse and BC-Wake Forest could play each other.  And so on.

The upshot is that FSU gets games against the three southern-most schools–which is good for attendance, TV ratings, and strength of schedule.  All rivalries are preserved.  And the world can keep the division straights.  Everyone plays a ton of geographically logical games.  Only Miami loses geographically, but it renews rivalries with Syracuse, Pitt, and BC.  This is what we call a win-win.  Making FSU happy is not a bad bonus either.  So… ACC leadership… the plea has been renewed.  Make it happen!

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , , ,
21 Jun 2012

Huge Win for the ACC–Four Team Playoff In College Football on the Horizon?

For most folks who have been fretting over the future of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the monetary situation is scary enough.  But when the SEC and Big XII announced their new bowl, there was legitimate concern that the national championship might arise out of a winner of that game versus the winner of the Rose Bowl.  If so, there would be a mad scramble for teams to get into one of the big four conferences.  The latest news is that the 11 conference commissioners, as well as the Notre Dame athletic director, have agreed to a four-team proposal that will select the best four teams, regardless of conference affiliation.   As always, Frank the Tank has a great update.

To be sure, the university presidents will need to make the final decision.  But it is doubtful that the presidents will decide to reject the commissioners’ suggestion and trigger conference realignment Armageddon.  As previously noted on this blog, it is not even clear that adding teams to the top 4 conferences is financially viable.  A school pretty much needs to be worth $40M-$5OM per year to allow each of the existing conference teams to get a $2M raise through the addition.  And even if some schools are worth that, it is not clear that it is worth diluting the tight-knit, slow-growing conferences that are stable.  This playoff structure gives the presidents an “out” for delaying realignment.

For the ACC, this should eliminate any real concern by the ever-whining Florida State fan base that they cannot be nationally competitive.  It probably will not shut them up, but it should.  If they can just learn how to win, they’ll be fine.  The money is there.

And for the rest of the ACC teams, they remain in the national title picture.  A 13-0 ACC team WILL be in a playoff.  Heck, even a 13-0 Big East team will probably qualify.  Like Florida State, it is just up to the ACC teams to go out and win games.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , , , ,
13 Jun 2012
2 Comments

Reports of ACC’s Death “Greatly Exagerrated”

Look, nobody can predict the future.  But for the very short term, at least, it looks like the Atlantic Coast Conference will be surviving intact.  In response to an inaccurate report of his death, Mark Twain once stated that the report of his death was “exaggerated.”  Similarly, it looks like the death of the ACC may have been prematurely pronounced too.

Florida State’s President Eric Barron addressed the trustees regarding realignment: http://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1373740.  Naturally, this will only cause the Florida State babies fans to simply seek to get him fired.  After all, why would anyone want its leader to be one to reject knee-jerk reactions.  In any event, nothing in what Barron had to say suggests that Florida State has one foot out the door.  Barron even became the 1,000,000th person to question why the ACC does not move to geographically logical divisions.  Not much to see here.

Dabo Swinney had all kinds of negative things to say about the Big XII rumors.  Most notable is that the rumors are hurting recruiting.  It certainly makes you wonder.  Do Clemson and Florida State fans REALLY think that kids in their locality are going to be thrilled about having games a time zone away?  Let the Presidents worry about the money.  Fans can just focus on being fans.

Again, neither of these individuals have the final say.  But both are being awfully bold in their statements.  It seems likely that a lot of the college football world is going to sit tight and see what happens with playoffs before making a move.  Makes sense, really.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , , , ,
22 May 2012
1 Comment

Conference Realignment: A Hearsay Battle

There is a bitter twitter battle between the factions with an interest in the conference realignment issue.  You decide which to believe:

On the one hand, this triple hearsay was posted on Frank the Tank:

Stevesays:

Virginia AD says ACC has plan for Orange Bowl with Notre Dame and FSU not leaving.
(Very long, but worth it.) I copied this from a free Pitt message board.

UVA AD Littlepaige & BB Bennett met tonight at Marriot in Arlington, Virginia on the 14th Floor overlooking DC with UVA Top Alumni Contributors.

1. The UVA AD said these rumors were started by the Former Big-12 Commissioner that brought in Bowlsly and ONE FSU BOT Member that was totally ignorant on the ACC TV Deal. The Big-12 Third Tier TV Rights are meager for all schools except Texas, which will have $15 million that they will share just a few points with the conference schools. WVU, KU, KSU, ISU, Baylor, TT, TCU, and OKSU will be lucky to earn $500,000 from local TV & Radio. WV has just 174 High Schools and there not much more in Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa. The only school that matters in Texas is UT, Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech will not earn much either with the Longhorn Network dominating.

On the other hand, the ACC ESPN Third Tier TV Rights will be on ESPN Channels that everyone can find right away and expose them to Recruits that turn to those ESPN channels. The ACC will be paid far more than anything for those Third Tier Rights Nationally and can be sold to other Networks in other ACC Sports. They will be all shared and it is expected that those Rights sold to advertisers that way will bring in another $5 to $7 Million per schools based on how the schools are winning and being ranked. About the only school that will earn more is UT but not the entire BIG-12. ND is earning just $6 million right now from CBS. The Big Ten Per School gets about $8 Million from Fox Big Ten Network. So, the ACC Contract is far more national in scope and depth by having ESPN handling them and sharing all income with all schools, unlike the Big-12 or SEC or PAC-12. The amount cannot be disclosed right now until PITT & CUSE join and see the ratings that come in as National Advertisers bid higher for commercials on ESPN, well WVU, Kansas, or Iowa State have to advertisers selling manure or lower paying advertisers selling local products.

2. The reason why the Former Big-12 Commissioner is bragging so much is really out knowing the Big-12 almost collapsed last year. It is like a wounded Bear crying to keep predators away. The Big-12 TV Contract is not equal for all schools and that is the dirty little secret no one in the Big-12 wants out.

3. All the ACC Schools and AD’s are very happy with the ACC TV Deal and many aspects the ACC does not want to reveal for current and future Athletic planning for each school in the ACC. FSU is going nowhere and nothing the Big-12 can offer can make that happen.

4. The big talk now and although not a done deal is that the ACC is reaching out to Notre Dame for Two Plans:

PLAN A:
The ACC Conference Winner that does not qualify for a Playoff spot will play ND at the Orange Bowl every year as means to counter the Rose Bowl & BIG-12-SEC Bowl. Notre Dame sell outs every Bowl they play in and the Orange Bowl is delighted about this aspect.

SPORTS TV Executives feel that will be bigger and better than anything SEC-BIG-12 offers since mostly their Conference Winner with be #2 pick in most years and God Forbid KU or KSU or ISU or Baylor. Just like the Rose Bowl has often not sold out when the Big Ten or PAC-12 #2 Schools plays in it. However, Notre Dame faithful fans come out at most all ND Games played anywhere. This also keep ND from joining another Conference.

PLAN B:
The ACC also feels by having this Bowl Association with Notre Dame, they will play more ACC Teams every year, and eventually this mutual beneficial sharing of Bowl Money and goodwill result in ND coming to the ACC when it decides it is joining a conference if ever. The ACC although they want to have ND join is very happy at 14 right now and if ND wants to stay Independent and still be part of BEC BB and All Sports, fine. But the bottom line this is the best plan for a Big Post-Season Bowl than having to play the BEC or Mid-Major!

5. The ACC is very happy that PITT is coming to the ACC and said PITT will be there in 2013. The ACC is feels it has re-entered and won back the Pennsylvania-Ohio and New York-New Jersey Markets they lost when BC, Miami & VT left the Big east and few to none ACC Games were shown here. The WV Market is too small to even consider since the TV Stations are in Pennsylvania that carryover to OH and WV, as well as Philly and New York City that smothers New Jersey. ESPN is delighted about this aspect of the ACC TV Contract and so is the ACC. In addition, heavy consideration for ACC to locate ACC BB Tournament to New York City although some push back from UNC, DUKE, NCS, WAKE, and GT who want at least the Tournament to switch between NYC, Atlanta, and Greensboro!

6. Told personally to one key big alumnus that do not listen to the rumors put out by the Sports Reporters, Big-12 Bloggers, and uninformed posters due to being worried that the Big-12 is really a Big Two League that Texas demands to run as they want, and UT can decide anytime to leave and they can do nothing about it. Many in the Big-12 are very happy at 10 Schools anyway to date.

Closing:
Now this is coming from another ACC AD, and we heard from GT, FSU, PITT, UVA, VT, and CLEMSON AD’S on the solidarity of the ACC and playing Notre Dame every year will be just as exciting as anybody as their CF Program starts to recover.
This post was edited on 5/21 10:29 PM by CaptainSidneyReilly

5/21 10:01 PM | IP: Logged

On the other hand, this commentary appeared on twitter:

Greg Swaim ‏@GSwaim

@jbresette Not officially…but unofficially, it’s quite possible.

The #BigEast is virtually dead, and the #ACC is quickly dying…at least as far as the football world is conidered.

The #ND deal apparently was a catalyst for getting #FSU aboard all along. This thing is happening fast now for the #Big12…

I’m told that #ND will jump in #Big12 very soon with Olympic sports, and then football joins after TV contract expires. #BlowsMyMind

With #FSU & #ND quite possibly to the #Big12, and their precedent setting deal with the #SEC, the #B1G won’t want to sit around long either.

The agresssive #Big12 is forcing the #SEC to go for two more before Nienas grabs them. Best bets #VT and #NCState, but subject to change.

#ND to #Big12 has more teeth today than I ever thought it could just a few weeks ago. The Irish are already going through proper channels.

So there you have it.
The ACC is thriving and dying.  At least we sorted that out.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , ,
20 May 2012

Expansion Talk Continues

Look, if you are an ACC fan, you better be nervous.  While the new bowl announced on Friday is bad news for the ACC, the Florida State fans–already a delusional group–are jumping on this as the latest indication that the ACC sky is falling.

In truth, it does give FSU a reason other than money to want to jump.  I mean, it would be great for them to take their 8-4 record to the Big XII and wonder who is going to play in the new bowl game that they will not qualify for.  After all, a few million dollars does not buy wins.  Unless you are cheating.  Hmmm… I guess that does sound like Free Sneaker U. might be making a comeback.  Maybe relevance will return for the Seminoles?  Long live the 1990s.

So… what happens if the FSU fans get their way and head off to the Dust Bowl conference?  Well, for one, none of us will have to listen to Florida State complain about their wookies being bent about every little thing that has ever not gone their way or might not go their way.  Seriously, they are crying about having to play in a Thursday game?   Good lord, grow a pair.

Still, gotta figure Clemson takes its delusional fanbase off to the midwest also.  That leaves two ACC openings.  Maybe even four.

My astute brother gets credit for this… but wouldn’t ESPN just love to find a new conference for UConn (near Bristol) and Central Florida (near Disney)?  Throw in Louisville and South Florida.   Now you are at 16 teams.  Miami has not one, but two partners in Florida.  Go to pods:

Way Up North: BC, UConn, Syracuse, Pitt

Deep South: Miami, USF, UCF, and Ga Tech

Southish: UNC, Duke, NC State, Wake Forest

Mideast: Virginia, Va Tech, Maryland, Louisville

Sure, the academics are non-starters for a few of these schools.  But we are talking two very good basketball programs (UConn and Louisville) and two football programs with a ton of potential (USF and UCF).  From Florida to Boston, the ACC would cover the map (except South Carolina, sigh).

Frankly, the Confidential is not sure that this is a worse football conference.  I think most teams can hold West Virginia under 70 points.  And UConn has been to a BCS bowl more recently than Florida State.

Perfect?  No.

Doable?  Yes.

Especially if that is what ESPN wants…

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , ,
19 May 2012
2 Comments

Big XII-SEC New Bowl Game: Relax, ACC Fans

Apparently, ACC fans are all tearing their garments over the new Big XII-SEC game.  This is a HUGE over-reaction.  As will be explained below, if the ACC does not panic, it will come out in an acceptable position.

First, there is the Rose Bowl featuring the Big XII and Pac-12 champion.  Now, the Big XII-SEC champions will meet in a bowl game.  The common perception is that this means that those champions can simply meet to decide the national championship once and for all.  If so, the ACC and Big East schools are left out of the mix–forcing the ACC teams to scramble looking for one of the four superconferences to join.  Right?

Wrong.

Well, partially wrong.  If the ACC schools start scrambling… like a bank announcing it is almost out of money… the scramble will lead to an implosion of the ACC.  The fear is worse than the reality.  If everyone stays calm, however, the end result will be acceptable.

Think logically here.  Each of the four so-called superconferences is already on record as saying that they support using the bowl system to resolve the national championship issue.  Even the SEC/Big XII bowl will involve the best teams that are not part of the playoff.  If Alabama is #1, then Alabama will go into the proposed playoff bowl… not this new bowl.  Instead, the SEC runner-up will go to the new bowl.  Unless the runner-up is also part of the playoff.  And so on.

The bottom line is that an ACC champion with 0 or 1 losses is ALWAYS going to be part of the playoff picture.  Conversely, a 9-3 or 10-2 champion out of the Pac-12, B1G, SEC, or Big 12 might lead to those conferences being excluded from the playoff.

The response to that is this… well, what if those conferences to decide to just have their champions play for the title?  First, it will not garner national interest because a large segment of the country is not represented–i.e. the Northeast.  And, as it is situated now, the teams in ACC country are not represented either.  Is there going to be a plan that ignores the northeast?  That is unwise.

Second, the goal of the playoffs is to crown a national champion.  Suppose you have this scenario after the conference championships are resolved.  LSU: 13-0.  Florida: 12-1 (lost to LSU in the SEC CCG).  Texas: 12-1.  Ohio State: 13-0.  Oregon: 11-2.  If only champions go to the playoffs–this means that 12-1 Florida is excluded at the expense of 11-2 Oregon.  Automatically, this means that there is continued debate about the four included teams.  The second best team from a conference may very well be the second best team in the country–neutering the playoff.  This defeats the purpose of having a playoff altogether.  And we have seen conferences have the two best teams a number of times (think back to Ohio State/Michigan).  Not a rarity, at least.

Instead, the more logical solution is to take the 4 best teams for the playoff, using a seeded playoff structure.  More often than not, the Rose Bowl and this new bowl will feature the #2 and/or #3 teams from the SEC and Big XII.  Instead of those schools playing the last BCS qualifier in the Fiesta Bowl, they will just play each other.  This is essentially deciding how the #3 or #4 BCS bowl will be filled each year.

In a seeded 4-team playoff with the the above scenario, Oregon gets excluded.  Oregon ends up in the Rose Bowl against the #2 Big 10 team.  This is a result we have seen quite a bit in the past too.  LSU would play Texas and Ohio State would play Florida.  The winners would meet.  Or perhaps Florida State or Notre Dame is undefeated and bumps out Texas or Florida.  The public will accept an undefeated team playing a reasonably tough schedule taking the place of a 1-loss team.  As long as the ACC stays intact, its champion will have the cache to do so.  This is especially so if Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, or Virginia Tech is the ACC champion and undefeated.  As long as those schools have a tough OOC game on the schedule, all is well.

Now… is it possible that the four superconferences might divide up the ACC?  Sure.  Of course.  But that is only if the ACC schools panic and let it happen.  The only real negative to come out of this announcement is that the BCS system might be dead.  Might be.  Even in the worst case scenario, the Orange Bowl will still end up with a very good team to play an ACC champion with 2 losses.  Could be a Notre Dame… the #3 B1G team (Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin?)… etc.  The payout may not increase as much over time, but there will still be a nice payout.

The real challenge will be for the ACC to stay strong.  If the ACC stays together, it can weather this storm.  Because it is not really a storm in anyone’s eyes other than panicky ACC fans on the Internet.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , ,
17 May 2012

The ACC TV Schedule for Football (Partial)

The ACC has released the TV football schedule for the first few weeks of the season and a few more games.  Here it is:

Date Game Network Time
Aug. 31 Tennessee vs. NC State ESPNU 7:30 pm
Sept. 1 Elon at North Carolina ACC Network 12:30 pm
Sept. 1 William & Mary at Maryland ESPN3 3 pm
Sept. 1 Richmond at Virginia RSN 3 pm
Sept. 1 Miami at Boston College ABC/ESPN2# 3:30 pm
Sept. 1 Murray State at Florida State ESPN3 6 pm
Sept. 1 Liberty at Wake Forest ESPN3 6:30 pm
Sept. 1 Auburn vs. Clemson ESPN 7 pm
Sept. 1 FIU at Duke ESPN3 7 pm
Sept. 3 Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech ESPN 8 pm
Sept. 8 Penn State at Virginia ABC Noon
Sept. 8 Ball State at Clemson ACC Network 12:30 pm
Sept. 8 Maine at Boston College ESPN3 1 pm
Sept. 8 Austin Peay at Virginia Tech ESPN3 1:30 pm
Sept. 8 North Carolina at Wake Forest RSN 3 pm
Sept. 8 Savannah State at Florida State ESPN3 6 pm
Sept. 8 Presbyterian at Georgia Tech ESPN3 7 pm
Sept. 8 Duke at Stanford TBA* TBA*
Sept. 8 Maryland at Temple TBA* TBA*
Sept. 8 Miami at Kansas State TBA* TBA*
Sept. 8 NC State at Connecticut TBA* TBA*
Sept. 15 Wake Forest at Florida State ESPN or ESPN2 Noon
Sept. 15 Bethune-Cookman at Miami ESPN3 Noon
Sept. 15 Connecticut at Maryland ACC Network 12:30 pm
Sept. 15 Furman at Clemson RSN 3 pm
Sept. 15 Virginia at Georgia Tech ESPNU 3:30 pm
Sept. 15 South Alabama at NC State ESPN3 6 pm
Sept. 15 North Carolina Central at Duke ESPN3. 7 pm
Sept. 15 Boston College at Northwestern TBA* TBA*
Sept. 15 North Carolina at Louisville ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 TBA*
Sept. 15 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh TBA* TBA*
Oct. 6 Miami vs. Notre Dame (Chicago, Ill.) NBC 7:30 pm
Oct. 25 Clemson at Wake Forest ESPN 7:30 pm
Nov. 1 Virginia Tech at Miami ESPN 7:30 pm
Nov. 8 Florida State at Virginia Tech ESPN 7:30 pm
Nov. 15 North Carolina at Virginia ESPN 7:30 pm
Nov. 17. Wake Forest at Notre Dame NBC 3:30 pm
Dec. 1 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game ABC 8 pm or ESPN 7:45 pm

Yes, we know what you are thinking.  How long will it take Florida State fans to complain that they have to play a 6 pm game on September 8th, and then turn around and play a noon game on September 15th?  The horror.  And just wait until Seminole fans figure out that their opponent on the 15th is Wake Forest, who Florida State cannot seem to beat anymore.  Three less hours to prepare = proof that the ACC hates Florida State.  At least the fans will have their excuse ready to go when the Demon Deacons win again….

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , ,

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