The rivalries matter to the schools and their fans though
You may not care about the "Textile Bowl," but I can guarantee you that both Clemson and NC State care about it. Rivalries is what makes football great whether you are talking HS, college, or even the pros. If a conference doesn't capitalize on the existing rivalries and try to maximize the protection of them, then it is only shooting itself in the foot. If the lack of rivalries rub enough schools the wrong way, then eventually they will decide to leave the conference and either join an existing one or create a brand new one (i.e. the MWC).
WRT playing OOC games, it may not be practical given the ACC Notre Dame requirement, ACC-SEC rivalry games, and the ACC's supposed increasing of Alliance games. Something will have to give there and most likely it will be 2 conference foes playing an OOC game. Historically that practice has been a once in a blue moon any ways, so why should anyone expect it to change now?
Plus, most schools have multiple conference rivals. If there is a year where they don't happen to play 2 or 3 of those rivals, then is it fair to expect that school to give up playing Notre Dame and/or an Alliance game so it could play its conference rivals in an OOC game? If there is a year where VT isn't scheduled to play UVA and Miami, then I can guarantee you there will be a lot of pissed off Hokie fans demanding answers and maybe even calling for the AD's head for allowing it to happen in the first place.
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In response to this post by Vippie1)
Posted: 02/10/2022 at 12:02PM