Hokie Tracks Aren't Talking about the Hokies

97 more days...

So yeah, that was kind of a tease.

Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich confirmed the ACC is trying to develop a bowl game similar to the one recently announced by the SEC–Big 12. It's a move that might be too little to late because the options are extremely limited. The ACC Champion playing Notre Dame every year might draw the most ratings and generate the most buzz, but could it consistently be the best annual matchup, and how long before it becomes stale? The Big East could offer up Louisville and Boise State. Woo? Playing the next best SEC, Big 12 or even Big Ten team after their playoff and respective bowl participants may be the best option in terms of allure and money. However, scheduling a game against sloppy seconds (or thirds) would be another public relations hit for the ACC. Isn't the little kids table fun.

Clemson BOTs held a meeting yesterday evening, part of it was an off the books executive session. Some of the subjects at hand were the ACC TV contract and the state of the league. Chairman of the Board David Wilkins told TigerNet.com they'd listen to what other conferences had to say.

"If we were contacted by a conference, we would obviously listen to what they had to say," Wilkins said. "And then we would make a reasonable decision. We aren't seeking that, and we aren't making any overtures about that. I think we have a responsibility to consider any viable component that would come our way. But we haven't been contacted by anybody. We just want Clemson athletics to be the best they can be. This board is committed to Clemson athletics."

There's no harm in just listening, right?

Eagle in Atlanta conducted a top notch Q&A with a sports lawyer familiar with the ACC TV deal.

The SEC-Big 12 bowl pumped new life into Larry Scott's Plus-One "playoff" model.

"I'd say before Friday that idea of a plus-one didn't have much traction, but I think the announcement on Friday's a game-changer," Scott said. "We're pretty far down the path on four-team playoff options, but given the very positive reaction to what the SEC and Big 12 have done, it's possible that (a plus-one) could get some traction."

This has to be the least favorable option for any conference outside of the Power Four (this is what I'm calling the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 for the foreseeable future). The only scenarios that put an ACC team into the championship game under a Plus-One model is if they're a consensus number one and they win their bowl, or chaos. Kind of like it is now. ACC teams won't be able to tout conference strength or a premier bowl opponent against the Power Four, so they aren't leapfrogging anyone or getting the benefit of the doubt.

This reads as another play for the Rose Bowl —a surefire way to keep it a part of the postseason championship formula. But now the SEC and Big 12 might be more willing to buy in since they have a baby of their own.