The proximity of Louisville to Cincy can be viewed as a positive or negative.
Cincy's airport is in Ky and they bill themselves the gateway to the South. In many respects it's a southern city. Similarly Southern Ind,and Ill,are much different than the northern part of those states.
It gives the Cards their traditional rival going back to Metro days.
But with Cincy not in a P5, Louisville might look at it as a opportunity to expand.
at their expense. The BC strategy. Louisville support drops off outside the city limits as UK owns the state. So capturing some of Southern Ohio is a possible strategy.
Even in the city itself UK fans make up a good % of the population. Cincy has the same problem in Ohio. with the OSU.
$30 million is now the floor. With each passing year that number goes up. There are no brave schools in the ACC as you put it, and there will not need to be.
I was hoping that the litigation with Maryland would have gone to trial because the ACC had the winning hand, but the delay with this case was starting to get in the way of the ACC's plans for things like the ACC Network Channel, the scheduling arrangements with other conferences like the SEC and Big XII, and other stuff. The ACC was too concerned about looking like a thriving conference while at the same time trying to look damaged during this litigation. This is now over, and the fun can begin.
If the Big Ten had any aspirations for another ACC school, it needed the ACC exit fee to be ruled punitive. It has now been set at a floor of $31 million. So as I've said before, the Big Ten needs to look to Iowa State. Perfect fit and they want to be in the Big Ten. But it won't be another state for the BTN, so Big Ten fans here don't like the idea. It's easier to integrate a good cultural fit sometimes than a school that is not a cultural fit. I still have a hope that UConn will be invited to the ACC at some point. If not there may be other options for both UConn and the ACC. Removing this two division requirement for a Championship Game in football will help with more flexibility.
Iowa State brings nothing to the B1G, their more of an ACC team ,number two in their state. (Except VA and Carolina maybe BC ) see Clemson,FSU,Louisville,Duke,Wake,NCS,Pitt. VPI,Miami
The B1G wants only flagships
Kansas at least brings a new Market