Regarding the Bold text, not sure any "protected rival" can be truly considered until the B1G's expansion intentions are announced. "If" the B1G is bringing in 2 more Pac schools (likely Cal and Washington or Stanford and Washington) Then we unimportant peeps can throw out our proposals. All in fun as we know nobody really cares about what the fans opinions are.
Regarding expansion I genuinely feel the next additions will be Washington, Clemson, FSU & yes... Notre Dame but that won't happen until the FSU & Clemson finalize internal decisions regarding the hefty cost as stated here: (
Link)
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Cost of departure
Contracts are made to be broken in every industry. In college athletics, the most recent example is the upcoming depature of
Texas and
Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2024 -- one year earlier than the end of the Big 12's deal. It will be very pricey for Clemson, Florida State -- or any other ACC program, for that matter -- to leave under the league's current grant of rights.
Carolyn Egan, Florida State's vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, said during Friday's meeting that the exit fee would be approximately $120 million,
according to the Tampa Bay Times."