Clemson football: 3 power moves that would solidify the ACC for the future

Three moves Clemson football fans could see the ACC make to solidify itself as a national power

2. Poach Penn State from the Big Ten

On the surface, there are several reasons people can point to as to why the Penn State Nittany Lions might consider jumping ship from the Big Ten to the ACC such as:

• The geography and natural conference rivals make more sense
• Penn State’s major recruiting fertile grounds reside in ACC territory
• Penn State, along with others in the Big Ten, hasn’t necessarily been happy with the leadership of the conference

However, money talks.

The Big Ten currently brings in more than $50 million per school per year. The ACC, on the other hand, has an average that is nearly $20 million less than that. That, in many ways, is the big hurdle to poaching a school– especially one of Penn State’s caliber– from the Big Ten.

So, how does the ACC do it?

The ACC would likely need to get Notre Dame on board or have Notre Dame along with Penn State agree to come into the league together. The conference could sell the two schools on the potential brand powers that would exist and how they’d be able to have yearly matchups with programs like Clemson football, for example.

Adding Penn State– with Notre Dame for sure, but even without– would create an opportunity for the conference to renegotiate its television deal and would, in turn, allow the Nittany Lions to potentially have some kind of pay day similar to what they’re getting in the Big Ten.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be the same amount, but it might be enough to at least make them think twice about staying in a league under the leadership of Kevin Warren.