Should the Pac-12 and the ACC merge?

With the Pac-12 media rights deal being at the forefront of the sport another suggestion has been proposed

This past July as the world was still running around like a headless chicken following the news that USC and UCLA were bouncing and making the move to the Big Ten, the idea of a "loose partnership" between the Pac-12 and the ACC was discussed. 

Now that idea feels like a distant memory that we are not even sure ever really happened, and would be more comparable to that one kid you remember when you decide to dust off the yearbook. Other than that, nothing was made of the proposal that would feature the best team of the remaining Pac-12 playing against the best ACC team in Las Vegas to decide a champion. 

However, just like we tend to do when it's finally time for spring cleaning, it is time to dust off that aforementioned yearbook and remember someone you haven't thought about in ages. That is exactly what former ESPN president John Skipper, who negotiated the ACC's 20-year old deal, did on Tuesday. Skipper, while on the Sports Business with John Skipper and David Samson show, explained that a merger between the Pac-12 and the ACC could very well throw a life preserver to both conferences at the same time. 

Skipper went on to explain that a 24-team conference would grow the ACC Network's footprint, and even allow for them to head back to the negotiating table to generate a new deal with ESPN. 

While his suggestion sounds more ACC friendly, as they are the ones reaping the rewards of the Pac-12 joining and saving the sinking conference, it is an interesting hypothetical. 

What we do know is that the Pac-12 had a meeting Tuesday to discuss their future, and we continue to wait and learn more about what the future holds for their media rights plans, and expansion with the three confirmed and one mystery school. If it came down to merging or the conference imploding, one would have to think that the 108 year old conference would prefer for the latter to not happen. 

As it stands right now, the Pac-12 and the ACC have the No. 4 and No. 5 tv deals among the other Power 5 conferences.

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