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A new conference realignment report has many predicting a mass exodus from the ACC in the near future. Recent rumors suggest the league is vetting a number of programs as potential additions.
All of those candidates hail from the Group of Five ranks. Could they be replacements for eventual departures?
The ACC has been active in conference realignment, adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU over the offseason. That’s allowed the league to add a West Coast presence, though it might need to change that name to the All Coasts Conference.
But while they’ll soon welcome new members to the fold, not all has been well.
Reports surfaced earlier this year stating an unhappiness from Clemson and Florida State about the league’s revenue distribution model. That stems from the ACC’s current contract with ESPN, which is locked in through 2036.
Talks died down after football season’s start, but they’ve started back up with October rolling in. One notable source predicted that the Tigers, Seminoles, North Carolina, and Virginia would eventually leave as a “block of four,” for either the Big Ten or SEC.
Of course, the one thing standing in the way is that television agreement that ties the schools to the conference for the next decade-plus.
Those teams have reportedly been exploring ways out of the deal, and recent news has many believing that they have.
Sports show host and columnist Jim Williams dropped a bomb on the college football world by suggesting the ACC has been in conference realignment talks with a number of Group of Five schools.
At this time @theACC has vetted a number of potential future candidates. Here’s a partial list@GreenWaveFB @USFFootball @TigersAthletics @UAB_FB @ECUPiratesFB @TulsaHurricane
In order of interest for now— Jim Williams (@JWMediaDC) October 10, 2023
Williams says that the league has been vetting potential future candidates Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, UAB, ECU, and Tulsa.
The ACC currently sits at 15 teams (with Notre Dame), with three more members joining in 2024. Would they move to 20 teams or more, or is this a precautionary measure in anticipation of departures?
Fans have been quick to respond online.
“ACC is vetting for backfilling so that they don’t become the next PAC12.”
“When does the ACC become the AAC?”
“The slow death of the ACC is upon us.”
“This means Clemson, FSU, and North Carolina are already gone.”
“ACC is losing 8-10 teams, requiring 5-7 additions.”
There are legs to that theory given what’s happened to the PAC 12. After seeing all but two members bail for the Big Ten and Big XII, the future of the Conference of Champions is uncertain.
Until we hear confirmation on a way out of the ACC grant of rights deal, this is all just speculation.