The Atlantic Coast Conference and Orange Bowl are finalizing a deal that would pit the ACC champion against either Notre Dame, an SEC or Big Ten team starting after the 2014 regular season, sources told ESPN.
The ACC champion, or another team from the conference if its champion qualifies for the national semifinals, will play annually in the Orange Bowl. How the ACC's opponent will be selected from Notre Dame, the SEC or Big Ten is still being determined.
The ACC and Orange Bowl would have the opportunity to take Notre Dame, if it doesn't make the national semifinals; an SEC team not in the national semifinals or Champions Bowl; or a Big Ten team not in the semifinals or Rose Bowl.
The Orange Bowl and ACC's deal with Notre Dame/Big Ten/SEC locks up both sides of the third major bowl when the new playoff format starts in 2014. The Rose Bowl will have Big Ten and Pac-12 teams and the Champions Bowl -- still to be determined whether to be held in Arlington, Texas or New Orleans -- will have SEC and Big 12 teams. Last week, Notre Dame announced it would join the ACC as a full member for all sports except football, where the Irish will play five games annually against ACC opponents.
via http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8392440/atlantic-coast-co...
So Notre Dame, or a team from the SEC / Big Ten is the probably opponent pool for the ACC. I'm fine with that as long as the deal guarantees ND is ranked high, it won't be a regular season rematch, and we get the next available SEC/B1G team after they send their teams to the playoff and the Rose and Champions Bowl. It would have been better if the ACC reached a deal with all 4 of the other major conferences, so there's a bigger pond to choose from. As expected the Big East (Boise State) are left in the cold.
What do you guys think?
Comments
ESPN
Protecting its own
I actually love this
If ND is ranked high enough there will obviously be a draw. Otherwise, anyone within the top 3 of either SEC/B1G would match up well with the top or runner up ACC spot. The ACC is not the strongest conference as we all know, so taking a diluted version of either conference is not terrible haha.
still weird to me
to consider that the bowls have this flexibility right now. I'm in favor of it.
Boise keeps chasing
that door to the big boys club, but remains one step too late. It's a shame for such a well-run program and great fan base.
great fan base?
yeah, they traveled well to fedex but they rarely sell out that itty bitty stadium of theirs. jmu has better attendance.
Meh
It's still slightly embarrassing that our best will only play the 2nd best from the SEC or Big Ten. I agree, it would be better if there were more conferences in on the mix for the ACC's opponent.