Did not see this coming. Rumors had percolated that the winner of this Thursday’s UNC-Pitt game would be in line to host College Gameday on November 7. There seemed to be some logic to it. Gameday tries not to go back to the same location more than once a season when possible — which would rule out going to FSU-Clemson.

Whichever team won would be in the driver seat for the ACC Coastal. Kind of a big game that ESPN has the rights to.

Then it was announced that this weekend College Gameday would be in Philly for ND-Temple. That ended the Gameday dream, but I couldn’t get too bothered. I’m glad Temple gets some love for once. If for no other reason than the joy they brought me on the opening weekend of this season.

Besides, a ND-Pitt game at worse would be a 3:30 start. ESPN/ABC would want the ratings.

What’s that?

#ACC announces game times for Week 10… pic.twitter.com/oLFasI66Yx

— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) October 26, 2015

Wha’ happen?

Contracts. Contracts. Contracts.

The Mouse Monopoly as we know holds contracts with the ACC, Big 10, SEC, etc. Well that particular week, the various contracts have the ACC without a primetime slot. So, even FSU-Clemson becomes a 3:30 start time.

There’s no doubt, ESPN would like to have the FSU-Clemson game later. As they would with ND-Pitt and Duke-UNC. All three of these games are either big for the ACC race and/or big ratings draws. But, the deals are inked and there is no way another conference (B1G) would voluntarily give up their primetime slot (Minnesota-OSU) for another conference’s game.

Pitt never had a say in this. They never have. The best they can do is put some things forth to their conference about what can and cannot work (like say, Pitt not playing at home on a Friday night). But it has never been within the power of the schools — or even the conference — to tell ESPN specific times for games.