One benefit of the ACC adding Pittsburgh and Syracuse in conference realignment would be the opportunity to renegotiate their media rights deal with ESPN. On Wednesday, the league announced the extension of their exclusive, multi-platform agreement through 2026-27.
The new deal is worth $3.6 billion over the next 15 years, according to the Sports Business Journal. If those figures are correct, the deal should generate about $17 million annually per school. The ACC's previous contract with ESPN, a 12-year, $1.86 billion deal signed in May 2010, generated approximately $13 million per school.
The deal also guarantees three Friday ACC football games per season on ESPN. There will be a standing commitment from Boston College and Syracuse to each host one of these Friday showdowns, as well as one game on Thanksgiving Friday.
ESPN will continue to air regular-season games on Saturday afternoon, evening, Thursday evening, and Labor Day Monday. This year, Georgia Tech will travel to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech in that Monday night showdown on opening weekend. ESPN will also continue to broadcast the ACC Football Championship Game in December.
Keep up with the latest college football news from around the country. From the opening kick of the year all the way through the offseason, CBSSports.com has you covered with thisdaily newsletter. View apreview.
Get CBSSports.com College Football updates on Facebook
