Clemson’s against extra league game
Clemson University coach Dabo Swinney and athletic director Dan Radakovich could work security at Coca-Cola. They are resolute in protecting the formula.
Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech have led the resistance to the Atlantic Coast Conference expanding to a nine-game league football schedule. Their commitment to an eight-game slate was gauged again Friday, when ACC athletic directors convened via teleconference to discuss potential schedule changes.
No action was taken, but the door is still open for change.
In a narrow 8-6 decision, ACC ADs opted to remain at eight games when they last voted formally in 2014, but much has changed since then. Primarily, the agreement the league reached with its television partner, ESPN, last month to establish a dedicated ACC Network by the 2019 season. As part of the 20-year deal, the ACC will expand its league basketball schedule to 20 games. ESPN would appreciate the value of broadcasting seven additional ACC conference football games among the 14 teams each year as well.
According to a report from David Teel of the Daily Press, ESPN has proposed two options: a nine-game conference schedule with a mandate to play at least one opponent from another Power Five conference each year or remain at eight and play at least two nonconference Power Five games.
The latter fits the formula Swinney has repeatedly lauded. Clemson has the obligatory rivalry with South Carolina. The Tigers add home games against a bowl subdivision mid-major Group of Five representative and an in-state championship subdivision team, like Troy and South Carolina State, respectively, this season. Finally, Clemson brokers home-and-home agreements with what Swinney affectionately labels “another sho’nuff” Power Five team, like Auburn this year and in 2017 and Texas A&M in 2018 and 2019.
That formula allows Clemson to maximize revenue with seven home games. It also empowers Clemson to monitor the caliber of its competition. Clemson may still be cautious that a nine-game schedule could water down their product.
Like Clemson, ACC teams Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville must play annual games against Southeastern Conference rivals. A nine-game schedule would add another preset Power Five opponent and possibly inhibit schools from reaching home-and-home deals with marketable major opponents.
Proponents of the nine-game schedule argue that the rotation of those cross-division games should be shortened. As it stands, outside of its crossover partner Georgia Tech, Clemson faces the other Coastal Division teams only once every six years. A nine-game schedule would shorten the wait for the next Clemson-Miami meeting to three seasons. Clemson would visit original ACC counterparts Virginia, Duke and North Carolina more than once every 12 years. Additionally, other ACC programs are not be able to schedule two Power 5 games as easily as Clemson and Florida State.
Proponents of the eight-game model argue that it allows more control for ADs and coaches. Clemson and Florida State have reached the College Football Playoff with their eight-game formulas, and the non-conference Power 5 victories have helped the flagbearers convince outsiders that the ACC is not as weak as its reputation.
Considering the suggestions from ESPN, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville may find themselves in the minority this time. Yet, regardless of how the formula is altered, let’s hope we don’t end up with New Coke.