Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Report: ESPN Won't Decline Option To Extend ACC TV Deal | What Does It Mean For Florida State?

Episode Date: August 5, 2024

ESPN college football reporter David Hale says he has been consistently told by administrators and sources that ESPN will absolutely not decline their option to extend the television partnership with ...the ACC beyond 2027. If ESPN opts in, does this make it increasingly difficult for Florida State and Clemson to exit the conference? Recent interpretations of the TV agreement have had people assuming that ESPN would likely opt out of the deal, create the need for a new ACC Grant of Rights, and give the opportunity for the Seminoles and Tigers to waltz out the door without an exit fee. Hale and attorney David McKenzie don’t expect it to be that easy. ESPN opting in does not necessarily mean FSU and Clemson would be stuck, however. There are other angles that they could possibly win in court that could lead to an exit. Hosts Alex Donno and Kenton Gibbs break down these updates and the long term impact they will have on the conference. The guys make their predictions for who will win ACC Coach of the Year in 2024. Gibbs makes a case for either Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key or Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry. The guys discuss a new ACC Power Ranking released by Athlon Sports.For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron!  Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.Factor MealsHead to Factormeals.com/lockedoncollege50 and use code lockedoncollege50 to get 50% off your first box PLUS 20% off your next month while your subscription is active! eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM and add a big win to your summer bucket list!FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 A prominent college football reporter and a polarizing lawyer are firing back at the idea that the grant of rights is finished in 2027 and Florida State and Clemson can waltz out the door for free. You are locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. I just can't wait until we get to the actual meat and potatoes of discovery. and the court argument. You and me both, brother. You and me both. Speculation season has been crazy.
Starting point is 00:00:42 By the way, thank you so much for making Lockdown ACCC, your first listen and your first watch. We're available free wherever you get your podcast. We're free on YouTube. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Make every moment more.
Starting point is 00:00:57 As playoffs wind down, the sport stop sporting like we want them to, but this summer, Van Duel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily. That's right. There's something for everyone every day all summer long. Visit fanduil.com to get started.
Starting point is 00:01:10 There's a new preseason batch of ACCC power rankings. We'll talk about those. I want to get into because we've talked about a preseason player of the year about first team all conference, but who's going to win coach of the year this year? I want to get into that. But first, Kenton, you know, we spoke about it late last week, this new information that people have gathered from the unredacted portions of that ESPN TV.
Starting point is 00:01:35 agreement that has been released to the public. Most of the good stuff is not, you know, legible. But as far as what people can actually read, there's definitely some steam for the idea that perhaps in 2027, you need either a brand new grant of rights or you need at least a two-thirds vote from ACC teams to ratify a new TV deal, which means theoretically, Florida State and Clemson might just be able to skip out the door for zero exit fees. but there are now a couple of counter arguments to that idea. How are you doing today, Kenton?
Starting point is 00:02:10 I'm doing great. I'm doing great. Dono, I like being right. And these cases are giving me a lot of room to be right because there are so many people that are so sure of things that never quite passed a smell test in real life. You know, I've been watching a lot of month lately, and I get to look at the fans on Locked on ACC a lot and say,
Starting point is 00:02:31 here's what happened and break down why what they're saying is complete and other. lunacy. I'm enjoying it. Let me not say ACC fans. Let me be very direct with this thing, okay? Because when I catch flights are going to be direct. Florida State and Clemson fans, I'm talking to you all. I'm talking directly to you all because it seems to be that everybody else is living in a certain set of realities about things. But every time information comes out, all of it is to your good, all of it. That's so interesting. It's like if you were a part of some type of hedge fund or something like that. And despite dips and all that,
Starting point is 00:03:05 had and despite the world being on fire and the market taking the huge crash. They're like, oh, yeah, our gains are still there. Yeah, we're still. We're still. Bernie Madoff is probably your guy. I was going to say Bernie Madoff, his gains were still good during that. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure.
Starting point is 00:03:22 And that's what I'm looking at a lot of these Florida State Clemson fans like right now. Because, again, there are so many aspects to these cases and the granted rights and all that that are very much so like, hey, this may work out for the A. And that's why I'm glad that we do what we do the way we do it, where we talk about things where, hey, this does not look good for the ACC. This is a win for Florida State. This is a win for Clemson. Hey, this doesn't look good for Florida State and Clemson. This is a way.
Starting point is 00:03:47 I'm glad that we do it in that way because it'd be hard to get on here and delude ourselves every time. The ACC is perfect. The deal is perfect. Nobody can ask for a better deal. Who's got it banned us? Nobody. You know, you look insane. Well, I think it's important, like, to present both sides.
Starting point is 00:04:03 And I know that Florida state fans have not been, you know, too friendly in our comment section recently because we do present counterpoints, right? And listen, when we've talked about times where they've gotten these victories, small victories in court, right? And I'm very anxious to see how this plays out. But anytime we bring up something that doesn't like pass their agenda of just just tell me we're leaving tomorrow. Oh, you see, did you read that? We're out tomorrow. So and again, I understand that like people are already going after this reporter. And this lawyer, the reporter is very well respected. The lawyer is very polarizing because he presents a very pro-ACC stance, which a lot of people don't want to hear. But ESPN college football reporter David Hale wrote, he said, from my reporting on this with numerous league and school administrators, I haven't talked to anyone who expects ESPN to decline the option. That's the 2027 option that everyone talks about.
Starting point is 00:05:01 he nobody expects according to Hale that they will decline the option and the sticking points about renewing he says are not about FSU and Clemson but rather more prosaic issues which means like dull every day I don't know why he used such a big word but I had to look it up dull everyday things like broadcast windows and assurances on possible future expansion i.e. don't go adding three new schools without the network's enthusiastic support he said and he was commenting on a an ex post from someone that this guy is like public enemy number one for Florida state fans
Starting point is 00:05:37 David McKenzie who's a lawyer who definitely he definitely takes a very pro-ACC stance on everything. So I absolutely. Disclamer, consider the source, but he has a law degree that most of us don't have. He says he jokes, it's right there.
Starting point is 00:05:53 FSU and Clemson can leave the league in 2027 without paying a dime. It's done. No need to buy all these lawyers anymore boats. That was the sarcastic portion of his post. Then he writes, ESPN is going to pick up the option. Why wouldn't it doing so give certainty. It's also cheap for ESPN, who said.
Starting point is 00:06:12 So I feel like Kenton, he might watch the show, David Hill. It's so crazy, Donno. It's so, if only somebody could have said, hey, we may not be the most of you getting conference, but in comparison to what others are paying for entire conferences, the ACC is getting a sweetheart deal on the ACC. If only somebody would have said that, Donno. They may be criticized. They may be called a liar, a hater, ignorant, Utah fans, you know, with all due respect.
Starting point is 00:06:39 No disrespect to the youths fans. Hey, I'm sure you all are wonderful people. But they may be called those things, Donald. They may be bald and handsome. But they'll be called those things. They'll be called those things. Again, the numbers don't work out in a way that it makes sense for ESPN to cut. I'm not saying that ESPN is paying as low for our rights as they are or not our.
Starting point is 00:07:01 but as low for the ACC's rights as they are for like the National World Series of Darts or anything like that. Like, no, they're paying substantially more, but they're making so much more out of it. Even if you say, hey, you know, without Florida State and Clemson, the viewership declines so drastically, it's like, okay. But does the viewership decline enough to where all of a sudden you can't come by any ad money for American football in America? People love football so much in America. We ask every four years, why is it not an Olympic sport? That's a thing that happens. Every Olympics, and we forget the criteria that a sport must be able to perform
Starting point is 00:07:48 and must be performed by both men and women at a high level. That's right. And I'm sorry to tell you, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Nijé do not have women's football teams that are equipped and ready to roll. That's just the reality. Okay. So, you know, this is a situation where, of course, ESPN knows if there's football on, people will watch it. Even if you're not in ACC country, if it's football on, you can go to any local bar
Starting point is 00:08:18 and what will be on the TV screens. Football, that's just what this is. ESPN knows this going to get its ducats and make much more than what it's putting out on the ACC, or else they would have been leaking stuff. about the downfall and putting things out that were very intensely aimed at ACC's downfall through some very easy channels where we would all be like, hmm, what is going on here? Hmm, why is ESPN so giddy to release the granted rights and things like that? But they're not for obvious reasons that they have the ACs.
Starting point is 00:08:50 They're taking advantage of the ACC with a favorable deal. Who would get out of a deal where they're getting advantage? I would never leave a job where they're paying me too much money to not work. hard. That's what the ESP is getting here. Now, I want to add some context when we come back because, hey, just because, or if they do, if ESPN does pick up that option beyond 2027, that that doesn't automatically mean the ACC wins, Florida State and Clemson are stuck forever. We'll talk a little bit more about that. Plus, who has the best argument for coach of the year, ACC preseason coach of the year?
Starting point is 00:09:26 I want to dive into that when we come back. You want to keep it locked right here. We're only getting started on this brand new episode of Lockdown ACC. I'm only getting started with eBay Motors because passion, drive, and patience, that's the formula for winning championships. It's also what keeps your ride or die alive. eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to peak performance. Superchargers,
Starting point is 00:09:48 roof racks, exhaust kits, LED headlights, and more, whether you're into speed, power, or style, eBay Motors has you covered. With over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die, you'll always find exactly what you're looking for. And with eBay guaranteed fit, your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back. Because with eBay Motors, you're burning rubber, not cash. With all the parts you need, at the prices you want, it's easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins.
Starting point is 00:10:13 Keep your ride or die alive at eBaymotors.com. Eligible items only, exclusions apply. eBay guaranteed fit only available to U.S. customers. Thank you so much for making this episode of Locked on ACC, your first listen. For your second listen, make sure you check out our other shows. Kenton co-hosts Locked on Wolfpack talking everything, NC State. I host Locked on Keynes talking everything Miami Hurricanes. Those shows are available, much like this one for free on YouTube and for free wherever you get your podcast.
Starting point is 00:10:43 And so again, Kenton, I want to reiterate that even if ESPN with no hesitation were to opt in to that TV deal, that doesn't mean it's case closed in Florida State and Clemson are stuck, right? Like Doug Rohan, the attorney from Rohan Law, like pointed out. And, you know, whether this is true, I guess this would also stand to the courts. But Florida State and Clemson don't have to win every argument. The ACC might have to win every argument to keep them in. But Florida State and Clemson only have to win one argument. And that extension of the TV deal, that's not the only thing that could validate or invalidate the grant of rights, right?
Starting point is 00:11:21 If they can prove that, you know, the conference was not negotiating in good faith. and fulfilling their fiduciary duties. There could be other loopholes here that we're not even thinking of. Like there are other ways that Florida State and Clemson can quote unquote win and either get out for free or get out for a discounted price. But people are pointing out maybe you shouldn't expect ESPN just to hit the, you know, hit the red button and just blow up the ACC before 2027 like some say they will. Yeah, I think that those are two different arguments in terms of whether or not this case is one. right by the ACC and whether or not the Greener Rice or whether or not the TV deal is going to get renewed, right? Let's make that very clear.
Starting point is 00:12:02 We are very much so saying you are in delusioned if you believe that ESPN will cancel a deal that they are, that they have their business partner in a compromising position for that's not going to happen. But that is also not a guarantee that, hey, the case is over Florida State and Clemson go home. You have to be with the ACC for forever. That's not what's happening here. And, you know, to the extent of what you said and what Roja Law said, you don't have to win every point, you just have to win a point. I think you have to win multiple points if you're going to get out for a discounted rate,
Starting point is 00:12:35 a very deeply prorated rate from what we're thinking, is the number which is half a billion, I believe, was the figure that the ACC stated. I think you're going to have to win on multiple fronts to get that greatly reduced. But with that in mind, again, these two things are, they're issues that are tangentially related, but they're not overlapping. Like the grant of rights in this case or the TV deal in this case are very close to each other, but they're not overlapping in that. It's not a guarantee that, hey, if one is aligned with the other, then that gives a definitive answer in terms of if it's a yes, that they're renewing, which again, by all accounts, the people that I've spoken to on every side of this thing, both from ESPN and the ACC, I have heard nothing about it making any type of sense about anybody thinking anything.
Starting point is 00:13:23 And normally, if there have been other moments where I've asked about situations where people have just been tight lit. And I'm like, oh, man, I'm waiting with bated breath to see what happens here. This is one of those times folks have told me outright. The chances of this thing not being renewed slim to none, but again, that does not end these cases. It just means we're going to move further into these cases. And we're going to finally start moving for peppering each other with jabs here to folks taking full out body blows and trying to land knockout punches. All right, so let's move on to some ball. You know, late last week, we talked about those ACC preseason media polls that came out.
Starting point is 00:14:01 You know, we voted on all-conference team preseason, preseason player of the year. Miami's Cam Ward was named that. But, Kenton, one thing that they didn't have us vote on was coach of the year. And that really got me thinking. And, okay, first of all, what, you go through recent ACC coaches the year. Like, sometimes the coach who wins the conference champion. championship does get that, but it's usually in the context of you improved the product on the field and the win totals from the year before. So I wonder if in the case of Mike Norvell, who won the award last year, rightfully so,
Starting point is 00:14:39 ACC coach of the year, if he set the bar so high for himself after, you know, a 13 and O conference championship season, that he's going to be able to repeat that award with anything less than 13 and 0. and maybe that wouldn't even be enough if another coach, you know, exceeds their own expectations. So I look at teams that have an opportunity to significantly raise their win total and their relevance from a year ago. I definitely think Dave Doran at NC State is going to be very much in that mix. And NC State has become like a popular pick as a team that could reach the ACC championship game. I think if Doran can do that, it's got a really good chance at winning the award, especially when his team gets slept on, you know, relative to the FSUs and the Clemsons and even the Miami's of the world.
Starting point is 00:15:26 I do think Mario Cristobal, if the Hurricanes can get to the ACC title game, that he could build a strong case after seven and five season last year, if he can improve that, you know, 10 or so wins this year. I also, I wonder about, what do you think on Davos-Sweeney? Because I know, like, people talk as if Clemson has just really fallen off. I mean, they won nine games last year. But if they were to win 10 or 11 games and win a conference championship this year, I could see Davo winning it. You know, there's a group out of Detroit called Do Boy's Cash Out, also known as DBCO,
Starting point is 00:16:01 and they have a song called Never Fell Off, okay? The song, the context of the song was basically people anticipating that the group was going to be done after they released an album where the number sales weren't necessarily great. And then Never Fell Off came out. And they were very emphatic that the group was still together. still going strong, everything was rolling there. If I'm dabbled and I win it, I'm not saying that I come out to that song to accept the award, but I think about it, I think about it.
Starting point is 00:16:26 I take a second and say, is it worth it? Maybe. But in all seriousness, I think that this award, it often follows one of two criteria. Are you the champion in a purely or a truly dominant fashion? Because that's always going to get you there. If you, you know, when Clemson went 15 and O and they were like, I believe it was a game against Georgia Tech where Travis E.T.N. had like eight carries between the tackles for like 190 or 200-some odd yards.
Starting point is 00:16:53 It was something insane because he had an 80-yard or a 60-yarder in there in terms of the distance of his rushes. But either you have to be that. So that's Norvelle's only chance to win it. Norvelle, if he's going to win it, Florida State has to not only run the table, they have to whoop the wheels off folks. I don't think they're that ahead of the conference. I don't. So I think that that rules Norvelle off.
Starting point is 00:17:15 And then you get to the rest. The rest, how do the other teams win it that don't beat that your dominant criteria? We saw Elko win it without winning the conference championship. We saw Flente win it without winning the conference championship. We saw, I believe, Kelly won it without winning the championship. Although Brian Kelly is a little bit of a different because the ACC gave every award they could to Notre Dame that year. Like, oh, if Notre Dame did decent, if a guy did decent, Notre Dame and this. We're going to give them the award. Yeah, I think the ACC thought if we give
Starting point is 00:17:49 no, because they remember in, for context in 2020, Notre Dame had to like officially enter the, like temporarily enter the conference. I think the ACC thought if we give them every award, maybe they'll stay. Exactly. And I'm still upset that Peyton Wilson's, uh, ACC defensive player of the year is sitting up there in South Bend with J.O.K. He didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Golden Dolmas. He didn't deserve it. But now, moving on from there, what am I saying by saying that, right? all these Dave Claus and another guy who won it without winning a gym. I'm saying this to say the only other path is a drastic improvement upon last year
Starting point is 00:18:24 or people thinking you're going to suck and you're good. Those are the only ways that you can get it done. So that leaves a few, the best of the rest teams, I think Mario Cristobal is going to have a hard time winning. I do because of how good his players are and the perception around his coaching. I think he's going to have a tough time winning. Nobody thinks they're going to suck. Nobody has ever seen Miami and said, oh, yeah, they're going to be a seven-win team this year.
Starting point is 00:18:48 So he has to fall in that truly dominant category, which I don't think is necessarily fair to Mario. I think if he did a job where they were, you know, 12 and 1 or 11 and 2 and got to Charlotte, I think he should be in more consideration than he likely will be. So then again, after Mario, now you get into the standards of the coach Doran at NC State. you get into Coach Pry at Virginia Tech. You get into all these guys that if they win 10 games, they're very likely to get in. But I'll say this, and this may be a hot take.
Starting point is 00:19:21 People may look at me crazy for this. I have a very strong suspicion that a guy named Brent is going to win the award next year. I have a very strong suspicion because I can see Georgia Tech winning eight or nine games, and that's a much more compelling case than a 10 and 3 Miami, then, you know, 9 and 4, 10 and 3 Wolfpack, then I struggle to say, but I got to say it. And 11 and 2, Clemson has to run the table. They've set that standard to where nobody's going to look at Davo,
Starting point is 00:19:57 and this is unfair to him because if he could get Kay Klupnik to play good ball, that's a miracle. That is, that's big time. That's objectively big. It really is. The young man came up with a readoff. on a play that was a dive. He threw a...
Starting point is 00:20:13 This man threw a bubble screen on fourth and one when a 230 pound bat going downhill was your first option. So with that in mind, I really and truly think that Key and Pride are in prime time situations to where neither one of those guys have to win the conference. If Pride or Key wins nine plus games, I think they're a shoeing for.
Starting point is 00:20:36 I think they're shoeing, which is not the case for Dorn, which is not the case for. for Cristobal, not the case for Dabo, not the case for Norville, not the case for our guy, Bram, because Brom, nine games will be a step back. So you're looking at this thing and you're saying, the only other exception I can think of that will fall into this category out there at SMU, if Lashley can win, eight, nine, he could get it because it's like your first year here, you came in at Rex shop. That's exciting. And, you know, that's pretty much it. I don't think the cow has the horses in the stable.
Starting point is 00:21:09 We are going to have, we are going to have a cow fan on pretty soon, you know, to talk about whether or not we believe, what they believe in terms of Arizona and Arizona State, but I don't believe that they have a shot at being good enough to win it. Same for Stanford, Boston College, Wake, all those things. Well, I think this is good news.
Starting point is 00:21:26 If I'm the guy who, like, runs the trophy department, I can save time. I can just chisle in the name Brent now with the last name to be filled in in a few months. So I could save time. TBD, exactly. We put break space. Just leave it right there.
Starting point is 00:21:41 Well, there's a new batch of preseason power rankings out courtesy of Athlon Sports. Is there any revolutionary stuff in here? Or did they kind of just go with the status quo flow? We'll talk about it. You want to keep it locked right here on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. Guys, throughout the summer, Fandual has kept me engaged in sports. It's made me more interested in gymnastics events and track and field and golf. I've also had a lot of fun placing wagers on international soccer throughout the summer,
Starting point is 00:22:15 baseball, NBA Summer League even. You know, I'm into that. This summer, Bandewil is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily. That's right. There's something for everyone every day all summer long. Bandual lets me keep the sports going whenever I want. All I have to do is open up the app and dream up bets anytime I'm bored. So head over to fanduil.com and start making the most out of your summer.
Starting point is 00:22:39 Football is going to be here before we know it, guys, by the way. So let's enjoy these last couple of quiet weeks. NFL preseason is a thing again now. But college football is going to be here in a few weeks. You can get on top of all of it at Fandul, official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball. Thank you so much for making this episode of LockdowneACC, your first listen and your first watch today. Also, make sure you're checking out Lockdown College football. one of the newest shows on this Lockdown Network and our very good friend Spencer McLaughlin
Starting point is 00:23:08 and Kenton and I make sporadic appearances on his show. It's hard enough for us keeping up with one conference. Spencer is keeping up with the power four. He's keeping up with the group of five. He does a fantastic job on Lockdown College Football. Check it out each and every day wherever you get your podcast. All right. So, Kenton, I was opening up this morning the Athlon Sports.
Starting point is 00:23:33 ACC preseason power rankings. And sometimes Athlon, and I write for their Miami affiliate site, by the way. So I'm a company man. I support Athlon. Sometimes they have like hot takes on certain things at the national side. But I don't tell me if this is pretty status quo. This is pretty similar to the ACC media vote when they order their ACC power rankings. They've got Florida State number one.
Starting point is 00:23:59 They've got Clemson at number two. they've got Miami at third. They've got NC State at fourth. So I think so far in Louisville, Fifth, I think that's the exact order. Was that the order that the media voted for the ACC? Or was that a little bit of... Yes, it is.
Starting point is 00:24:15 Yes, it is. That was the exact order. Boo, I'm booing you. I'm throwing tomatoes at you at you Adla. I'm throwing tomatoes. Boo. Let me tell you something. Attacking my livelihood.
Starting point is 00:24:24 I'm sorry, Dono. I'm going to attack your livelihood. I got to do it. I got to do it. I love your family. You know, you know, I love the white. kid you know but i got to do the reality out of my six-year-old son's mouth right the reality is this the reality is this i i don't understand don't get me wrong right i love the fact that everybody is on
Starting point is 00:24:46 board for just about what we're on board for i like that everybody thinks like us but it's like that old thought of if everybody thought like you the world is a boring place this ac c is too wide open to have everybody going chalk. Somebody should be looking at a really, a really odd, really wonky ranking and say, get up here. Let's dance. Come on. Let's do it. Let's do something wild.
Starting point is 00:25:09 Because again, this is an ACC while Florida State is the favorite because they're the big dog on the block. And in order to beat the man, you've got to beat the man. And not too many have beat the man recently. Absolutely, I understand. But I struggle with, if somebody gave me 100 chances to pick the ACC,
Starting point is 00:25:25 I would not pick it the same way. every single time. I just wouldn't. You know, like, I'd like to believe I was consistent enough to say across 100 different realities I'll pick it the same. I know for a fact, I'm not picking it exactly this way every time. I got to believe, you know, Louisville gets over the home. I think they're close. I think they keep Chuck up right. They're going to do it. I got to believe, you know, Clemson's dynasty is not just like, it's not good, it's over. They're going to be the fifth best team in the conference this year. You know, Christobal's going to win it. He's going to win it. He's
Starting point is 00:25:57 He's got all the talent. He's got a hell of a coaching staff. They've got players like you have never seen at all the position or the impact positions. Everybody knows. Quarterback, pass rusher. If you got two of those that are dominant, you can figure out the rest and they got both. Adeline, no disrespect. You know, keep paying down, of course.
Starting point is 00:26:17 Keep paying down. Keep my man on. Keep my man employed and working. But I need to see somebody get a little crazy. Well, listen, I did. I did vote for Miami at number one. So I went out maybe a little homerism, but I did go against the grain.
Starting point is 00:26:34 I did go as an Athlon representative. I did go against the grain. I love that. I love that. And I also went against the grain in terms of my picks for the ACC. Because while I believe that Florida State is the most likely to win, I said, you know what? I don't want to do what's most likely.
Starting point is 00:26:51 I want to go with what I think is going to happen with what I can, you know, I've seen enough ball to think that I know a little something. I'm going to pick somebody else. And y'all will figure out at the end of the year who I pick. Because if this team wins, oh boy, I'm going to be insufferable. I'm going to be so insufferable. And it may not be a team that you think. It may not be a team that you think.
Starting point is 00:27:13 Me and Donald have already talked about this. But I'm telling you, if my champion comes through, who are we? We're going to have a time on this show. I think he might have just dropped the hint that maybe that one reporter who voted Boston. Boston College. You might be looking. It wasn't A.J. Black. It was interesting.
Starting point is 00:27:31 And you know, going back, there were people making, making revolutionary picks because, you know, Boston College, they, in the ACC media poll, BC got one vote in the first place. Cal, as we talked about, Cal got two votes.
Starting point is 00:27:46 And by the way, shout out to the Cal fans, because I know, like, switching over to Lockdown ACC was probably a big transition for you. You know, you used to watch Locked on Pac-12, that Spencer, who now hosts Locked on College football,
Starting point is 00:27:59 used to host Locked on Pac-12. Like, the Cal fans found us, Kenton, because we, you know, we had that little segment, a couple segments last week. One, there was that Cal fan on X who said that the ACC, that they're not afraid of any team in the AAC, a bunch of Arizona in Arizona states. And then we also, we poked fun at two media members voting Cal
Starting point is 00:28:19 to win the conference. And the Cal fans are in our comments, like, bros, you're sleeping on us. You're sleeping on the golden bears. Listen, if Jaden on the bears wake us up, I'm going to be excited about it. I'm going to be excited about it. I love chaos. I love a little anarchy.
Starting point is 00:28:35 Give me a little bit of lawlessness and rullessness in terms of who wins the ACC. Come on in here and show us that we're Arizona and Arizona State just last year, not the years before that. But yeah, come on in here and show us. Whose place this is? I am excited for Cousin Cowell to get here. Y'all know I love me some SMU. Y'all know. Stanford, I have no problems or qualms with them either.
Starting point is 00:28:57 They're a nerd school, and I love me a good nerd school, too. My heart goes out to the Stamphers, the Northwesters, the Vanderbilt, all of those schools of the world. Because, man, y'all got the toughest time there is. You're not quite an Ivy, but you got those standards, so it's tough to get the best guys in. You know, I'm absolutely geeked up to see what these teams can do. Oh, man.
Starting point is 00:29:19 So, you know, and by the way, we didn't even talk about this because we're, locked on ACC, but I recall a couple weeks ago at SEC media days, two people voted for Vanderbilt to win the SEC. I think that's way crazier than two votes for Cal. Cal has a better chance. Cal has a better chance in the ACC than Vanderbilt has the, like if Vanderbilt were to win the SEC this year, Kenton, that would be 10 times bigger than when Lester City won the EPL.
Starting point is 00:29:50 That would be bigger than Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. Like, I mean, you think about that freaking conference with Georgia and Bama and LSU and Texas and Oklahoma and all. Yeah, that's right. Let me give you just a quick example from this show because I didn't even know Donald was going to bring this up. I did not know Donald was going to bring this up. And yet I talked about the fact that there's no women football abroad, right? Who is the only FBS team to have a woman actively participate on this roster? Who has in the past?
Starting point is 00:30:22 Vanderbilt. They had a kicker. We talked about the fact that this thing doesn't exist in the world, and they had it at an SEC school. And you want me to believe that that school, in less than three years removed from that, is going to be your champion? No, no, no, no. Listen, if somebody told me, Ken, you got to pick one of these or your life's on the line. the Martians had a death beam point of Earth. I would say, can I get some time to make this decision? And during that time, I would call my mom, tell her,
Starting point is 00:30:57 I love her, tell her that, you know, it's been a fun ride for Earth. I'm going to go with Cal because there's no way Vanty's going to do it. But, you know, again, I'm excited about this season. I think the ACC is wide open. And I think that there may be some surprising teams in here that many folks are sleeping on that, you know, I'm excited. I'm excited to see how it shakes out. Well, never sleep on locked on ACC.
Starting point is 00:31:18 If you're enjoying the show, make sure you subscribe, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Odyssey app, wherever you get your pods. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Hit that thumbs up button, smash that like button. He is Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. I am Alex Dono from Locked on Cains. Thank you for making us your first listen. Make sure you make Locked on Wolfpack and Lockdown Cains your second and third listens.
Starting point is 00:31:39 And we'll talk to you again next time on another episode of LockdowneCC, part of the awesome Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.