Jon Joseph

One reason for litigation is to come to a settlement of a lower exit fee. This is what Maryland accomplished when it left the ACC and sued over an exit fee that was far lower than $140M. And Clemson makes a most salient point. We're supposed to pay you $140M and you keep our media rights? The ACC will stay together in one form or another but like the B12 it will be a lowercase 'p' power 2. I think a Super League is inevitable. Puddles will be there.

A contractual agreement even with 10 of the 12 partners leaving the firm with the two lowest partners on the totem pole remaining is meritorious? If the Pac 8 had decent legal representation they would have called a board meeting before giving notice and changed the by-laws. What happens when the Pac-2 goes to the MW or reverse mergers with the MW? Do you think the P2 will share the quasi-purloined funds with their new MW friends? Of course not because the Pac-2 will argue that MW west teams had nothing to do with earning the money. Other than providing cannon fodder, what did the Pac-2 contribute to post-season revenue? Nada. You do not get paid for winning baseball tournaments. OSU keeps its CBB money fine. And I'd settle for giving both teams more than what they earned but not the entire enchilada. It's theft using a huckster trick but it worked with the suckers in charge of the Pac-8. If the Pac-10 filed suit in Salt Lake City and hired Ballard Sparh as counsel I'm reasonably certain that a state court judge could have ruled differently than a state court judge in Bum Fork, Washington. Hats off to the Pac-2 for hiring lawyers good for their side and Go to Hades to the Pac-10 folks that let this happen without a fight.

Novostad at QB? That's some great journalism. 😂 From a top-ranked public university. The author may want to tune into Ducks Wire.

I think this Wolverine may have rabies. Ranking Michigan football 2024 season opponents by difficulty WOLVERINESWIRE.USATODAY.COM This is the definitive ranking of games in 2024. #GoBlue

Four things to watch as USC begins spring football practice SPORTS.YAHOO.COM As USC prepares to open spring practice on Tuesday, here are four things to watch, including the quarterback competition to replace Caleb Williams.

From Bleacher Report. Clemson Sues ACC over Grant of Rights, Withdrawal Fee Following FSU's Lawsuit BLEACHERREPORT.COM Clemson has become the second ACC program, after Florida State, to file a lawsuit against the conference. According to the court filing, the school is suing…

Great take. Further complicating the matter is ESPN's ownership and operation of the ACC Network. The formation of the Network was a bargaining chip used by ESPN to have the ACC agree to a media deal through 2036. Interesting argument Clemson makes: You want us to pay $140M in liquidated damages and you still retain our media rights? No matter where you come down on the matter, I think a South Carolina state court judge will find merit in Clemson's argument notwithstanding the 'plain language' of the grant of media rights.

This litigation could accelerate Notre Dame's having to join a conference. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/paul-finebaum-forecasts-notre-dame-will-join-a-conference-shortly

I agree. IMO, it's a form over substance argument to fall back on by-laws when 10 of 12 members are leaving. The by-laws were not amended with 2 of the 12 leaving but another 8 of 10 leaving could have altered the bylaws and this argument made in front of a 'friendly' state court judge in a Pac-12 jurisdiction other than Washington and Oregon could have obtained a contrary opinion. That means the matter would be moved to federal court. Alternatively, the 10 departing members could have moved to bankrupt the Pac-12 and see what a bankruptcy court considering the comparable equity in the matter, would have determined. With the money involved, why not spend the money to litigate looking for an alternative decision? At the very least such an action would have slowed down the process and given the departing members negotiating leverage. The departing members simply rolled over, giving OSU and WSU everything they asked for. Why? Because it is academicians and not business people in charge. The Pac-2 used litigation as a weapon and the Pac-10 should not have bent over. As to canceling out Texas Tech and instead tripping to Corvallis. Did anyone think to ask small business owners in Eugene/Springfield their opinion? Did anyone calculate the economic hit Eugene/Springfield would suffer? The hit to Oregon in merchandise sales, concessions, parking, etc.? Did anyone consider the atmosphere Oregon fans will experience in Corvallis? Did anyone consider the SOS hit playing a G5 and not a P4 team? Did anyone consider whether or not the game would be broadcast? Oregon did not hose over Oregon State, the marketplace rejected Oregon State with good reason.

Clemson has joined fellow traveler FSU in bringing suit against the ACC. The two biggest and most watched brands in the ACC want a much bigger piece of the revenue pie or they want out. I do not see the 15 other ACC member teams giving Clemson and FSU close to the cash the Tigers and Seminoles would bring in from being a Power 2 member. FSU is 'this close' to earning AAU member status, and Fox and friends would love to have a team in the football-mad southeast. The SEC has USC(e) but Clemson is a much bigger brand and would fit nicely with UNC, NC State, and UVA should the ACC go away or morph into G5 territory. Clemson suing ACC, joining Florida State as second program to sue conference WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM Clemson is suing the ACC over its grant of rights and exit fee to leave the conference.

Some love for VA Tech. Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones improving in key areas will have Hokies emerging as ACC threat in 2024 season - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Drones showed flashes of brilliance last season as he led Virginia Tech to a resurgence down the stretch

29% for the B1G and 29% for the SEC is not greedy. It reflects the value of the brands in an 18-team B1G and a 16-team SEC. Is more change coming soon to CFB? Clemson as predicted on this site and many others, has filed suit against the ACC.

Paywall. ESPN's Bill Connolly has an article up today on the ESPN site with his thoughts on improving the playoff committee process.

Over the last 2 weekends, Scheffler made $8,5M, without buying a lottery ticket. Not too shabby.

OT but likely to 'soon' have an impact on CFB, Clemson has filed suit against the ACC. The ACC's 2 biggest and 2 most-watched brands are suing the conference.

Show Puddles the Money! SEC, Big Ten influence to grow larger with new CFP revenue distribution model WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM The gap between the SEC and Big Ten and the rest of the FBS is only going to get larger with the latest tweaks to the College Football Playoff.

Francois McGuillicuddy? In my mind, I picture a French restaurant serving Guinness and bad Irish food. Whatever, he manages a terrific network. Night and day from the Pac-12 Network amateur hour. No worries about the 2025 spring game being covered from kick-off to the final whistle by BTN.

SB Nation is not a Tournament Happy Camper. March Madness men’s bracket makes no sense thanks to selection committee WWW.SBNATION.COM No one can make sense of a bizarre 2024 men’s NCAA tournament bracket.

Expletive Deleted GOLF! WATCH: Wyndham Clark's excruciating lip out at Players Championship costs him chance at $4.5 million - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Clark nearly made birdie on the last to force a playoff at the PGA Tour's flagship event

With Oregon in, 7 B1G teams made the NCAA Tourney field. Will the B1G win its first title since 2000? Key takeaways from B1G’s 6 NCAA Tournament teams SATURDAYTRADITION.COM Three Big Ten teams are on a collision course with a No. 1 seed in the 2nd round. That and other key takeaways for the NCAA Tournament.

Saturdays Down South's Connor O'Gara has Oregon defeating USC(e) in the 1st-round. Dana, make it so. O’Gara: How far I have every SEC team advancing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM Which SEC team will be the last one standing this March?

Would the champ game be played on July 4th? How a 64-team college football tournament would play out - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Why should basketball have all the fun? We run through an imaginary football bracket down to the Sweet 16. Our Man Dan is everywhere!

AMEN, Charles! If the Committee simply wings it regarding SOS the fans of teams that finish say 12 to 16 with the more difficult schedule will not be happy. (I'm penciling in the G5 rep for the No. 12 seed.) Liberty's CFN Ranking SOS = 1,409! I don't care if Liberty goes 13-0 and wins every game by 3+ TDs, the Flames should not be in the playoff field and if they are in they will be blown out on the home field of the No. 5 seed. And the 4 top-ranked conference champs being seeded 1-4 will result in 2nd round blowout games.

The Pac-10 caved. The underachieving bloodsuckers, no football playoff $, no NY6 football game $, 1 CBB appearance by OSU, and WSU this season, get all of the NCAA tourney dough split down the middle. The Pac-10 should have filed in state court outside of Washington, won a judgment, and kicked the matter into federal court. Instead, it was bend over, and thank you, Sir, may I have another. Exacerbated by giving up a P4 home game to play a G5 team in Corvallis; a game that may or may not be broadcast. Stupid and GUTLESS. On to happier things. South Carolina men's CBB team was the surprise of the SEC in 2023/24. Picked to be a conference bottom dweller, USC(e) went 26-7 overall, and 13-5 in the SEC. South Carolina finished with a NET ranking of 51. 6-5 vs. Quad 1, 5-0 vs. Q2, 6-2 vs. Q3, and 8-0 vs, Q4. OREGON finished with a NET ranking of 59. 4-6 Q1, 5-4 Q2, 8-1 Q3, 6-0 Q4. The SEC was a far deeper and better conference than the Pac-12. These Gamecocks are game-tested and will likely have better attendance than Oregon. Gamecocks fans fill up the home stadium for men's and women's CBB games and also sell out all home football games, seating capacity of 77,559. 538 miles from Columbia, SC to Pittsburgh; 2 six packs and a nonstop drive for college students. It's 2,581 miles from Eugene to Pittsburgh. Beyond the Student-Beer-Quotient. You have to buy and drink more beer than will allow you to complete the drive. GO DUCKS - Pluck the Gamecocks!

Thanks as always to my fantastic Editor. He takes a lump of coal and polishes it into a diamond. I did not add the rankings below to the article, but these rankings of the conference-only schedules for B1G and SEC top 25 teams evidence the disparity in intra-conference schedules. A few teams will be getting the short end of the scheduling stick every year. An example? This season OREGON plays Ohio State in Eugene and Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2024, USC will miss both Ohio State and OREGON. In 2025 OREGON does not play Ohio State and does not play Michigan but plays SC in Eugene. B1G - The lower the number = the more difficult the schedule. [Iowa is ranked No. 20 but I did not include Iowa as I do not believe and Vegas agrees, that Iowa can win the B1G title in 2024. Now, watch the Hawkeyes go 13-0!] MICHIGAN - 233 - the schedule ramps up for the defending champs in 2024 but 8 home games will help. USC - 254 - LSU and Notre Dame out-of-conference but as noted above, no Ohio State and no OREGON, and the Trojans play Penn State and Wisconsin in LA. OREGON - 275 - If the Committee uses a NET-like metric as it should I hope credit is given for playing 8 games in a row without a break. PENN STATE - 280 - Nemesis Michigan is off the 2024 schedule. Ohio State travels to Happy Valley. Can James Franklin take down the Buckeyes for the first time since 2016? OHIO STATE - 305 - The easiest conference schedule for a contender by a good bit. 3 G5 teams out-of-conference and 8 home games where the Buckeyes do not lose conference games. Ryan Day has 3 B1G losses, all 3 to Michigan. ................................................................................................................................................ With eight conference games, there is an even greater disparity in SEC intra-conference strength of the schedules. OKLAHOMA - 126 - Would OU Sooner have stayed in the B12? Home games vs. No. 5 Bama and No. 12 Tennessee. On the road vs. No. 9 LSU, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 17 Missouri, and No. 34 Auburn. No. 3 Texas in Dallas. With Dillon Gabriel in Eugene. WOW! GEORGIA - 175 - A dark blue Blue Chip Roster and Beck back at QB but on the road to play No. 5 Bama, No. 6 Ole Miss, and No. 3 Texas. And Clemson to open the season. ALABAMA - 205 - Welcome to the SEC Coach DeBoer. Enjoy the games vs. No. 2. Georgia, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 17 Missouri, No. 9 LSU, and No. 13 Oklahoma. And No. 34 Auburn drops in for a visit. At least you get to trip to No. 30 Wisconsin in September. Ole Miss - 223 - No Bama! No Texas! UGA, and Oklahoma in Oxford, the toughest road game comes vs. No. 9 LSU in Baton Rouge. This is a schedule made for a (portal) king. LSU - 248 - Which team will have the better overhaul on defense, LSU or SC? The opening game in Las Vegas should give us a hint. LSU plays both LA schools, and OREGON plays only UCLA. TENNESSEE - 257 - The Vols (and UVA) blew out the NCAA in federal court. Will Tennessee have the same on-field success behind NIL poster boy Nico? TEXAS - 278 - What did Oklahoma do to tick off the folks at SEC HQ? Horns play Vandy, Mississippi State, and Kentucky in Austin, and Georgia also visits Austin. No Bama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Dillion will not be in Dallas. The road game vs. A+M should be interesting. MISSOURI - 292 - Happy Days in CoMo! Seven SEC teams in addition to Mizzou are ranked in the top 25. Bama on the road and Oklahoma in Columbia. And these Tigers (Jerk cats?) play only two top-25 SEC opponents, one FCS team, two G5 teams, and Boston College out-of-conference. Will the Committee make note of this slop or simply hand a 10-2 Mizzou a ticket to the Playoff? The difference between Michigan and Ohio State in the B1G, 72. The difference between Oklahoma and Missouri in the SEC, 166. More than double the B1G spread between the hardest and easiest conference schedules. How long is it until August 31st?