The UConn addition

[kayako]

I believe uconn's AAC breakup fee is $17M, $7M of it for leaving earlier than 24 months notice period. Uconn fans, any idea if and how much of it they can claim back if parts or all of 2020 football season is cancelled?

[Bogg]

I believe uconn's AAC breakup fee is $17M, $7M of it for leaving earlier than 24 months notice period. Uconn fans, any idea if and how much of it they can claim back if parts or all of 2020 football season is cancelled?

I'd expect none. UConn left early and is currently a member of the Big East, the agreement was carried out. Post-split scheduling isn't really the AAC's problem.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I believe uconn's AAC breakup fee is $17M, $7M of it for leaving earlier than 24 months notice period. Uconn fans, any idea if and how much of it they can claim back if parts or all of 2020 football season is cancelled?

The $17 million fee was another PR spin move by Aresco (just like the $1 billion headline they pushed after their TV deal with ESPN was announced). The AAC withheld $11 million in conference distributions from last year and this year, with UConn paying $1 million annually for the next six years. Thus, UConn is really only paying, out of pocket, $6 million (one cannot pay a fee if that fee was withheld to begin with). The fact that UConn got out of the AAC a year after announcing (when there was a 27-month departure notice) and paying as little as they did, was another win over the AAC by UConn.

Now, the reason the payment is likely smaller is because UConn has agreed to maintain several scheduling arrangements with the AAC in football and men's and women's basketball.

If leagues move to a conference only schedule this year, UConn can still get a handful of regional games with Army, UMass, Liberty, etc. and a few FCS programs. At this point, however, I cannot imagine a college football season this Fall, sadly. Thus, it will all become moot anyway.