(Copied down from subscriber board)

I just read an ACC Sports Journal article on the ACC and potential realignment scenarios. None of the ideas were new and matches what a lot of posters here have been saying. My question above is spurred by the last couple paragraphs as quoted below.

"As Joe Giglio from WRAL Sports points out, Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick was a part of the four-person CFP working group that pushed for postseason expansion. Swarbrick teamed up with Greg Sankey, commissioner of the SEC, while on this committee. Unsurprisingly, the SEC and Notre Dame stand to benefit the most from this expanded playoff format."

I keep reading that the SEC Commissioner had ulterior motives in getting a 12 team playoff, i.e. it opened the way for the SEC to take 5 or 6 spots in the Playoff, essentially opening up an opportunity to add UT and OU. Similarly, I read that Notre Dame is the biggest winner in the 12 team expanded playoff, because they have virtually assured themselves a good chance of a top 12 slot as an independent, thereby avoiding any need to even consider joining a conference. In addition, 2 of the 4 members of the CFP expansion committee seemed to have negotiated very favorable terms for their respective institutions - the SEC and Notre Dame.

What happen if the ACC, Big 12 (7?), and PAC vote against the 12 team playoff? I even think that the Big 10 may vote against as it seems they may not be interested in expansion right now and seem to be reacting to the SEC's move. It is not official at this point and I assume the conferences (which utlimately represents the school presidents) still need to vote to approve the expanded playoffs.

Seems to me, that sticking with the 4 team playoff could put a halt or hold on the immediate incentives that triggered the SEC expansion. In addition, it could put some heat on Notre Dame to actually at least consider conference affiliation (or at least not give them the free pass Swarbrick was able to negotiate as 1 of 4 committee members).

Of course that leads to two questions - how does ESPN react and how does Notre Dame react? Will ESPN blackball leagues/teams voting against the 12 team Championship? Also, would Notre Dame take it as an attack by the ACC and simply entrench further (or look elsewhere to expand)?

Also does delaying/ halting an expansion to a 12 team playoff simply delay the inevitable or might it bring some sense of calm instead of the panic mode some conferences are in? If the Big 12 (7?) conspiracy theories regarding the ESPN choreographing this move are true, delaying or halting the 12 team playoffs may give the conferences (as well as the school presidents who set the conference policies) some method to more intelligently and fairly address the expansion issue instead of letting ESPN drive the process.

Just my thoughts. Interested in hearing from others (especially some of our ND fans).
[Post edited by mjfhokie at 07/29/2021 6:14PM]