ACC Expansion Talks Stumble as Cal and Stanford Face Roadblocks
The pursuit of California (Cal) and Stanford for conference membership in the ACC has hit significant roadblocks, according to sources. Although no vote was taken during a Wednesday night meeting of ACC presidents, discussions about expansion are expected to continue as leaders grapple with how best to position the league for the future.
Talks about adding Cal and Stanford gained traction after the Pac-12 recently disbanded. However, the likelihood of the schools joining the conference has always been slim due to their lack of significant financial value. The ACC is facing a potential revenue gap of up to $30 million per year compared to the SEC and Big Ten, so adding members that bring in additional revenue is crucial.
The addition of Southern Methodist University (SMU) to the ACC was also discussed but seems to be going nowhere, according to sources. Cal and Stanford remain more appealing to some league presidents due to their academic prestige and brand value, despite not offering a substantial financial windfall.
Notre Dame, a member of the ACC in all sports except football, has been advocating for the inclusion of Cal and Stanford. Notre Dame holds a voting privilege on expansion matters and has a longstanding relationship with Stanford. The prospect of combining their Olympic sports teams is also attractive. However, some athletic directors have questioned whether it’s wise to heed Notre Dame’s recommendations given their commitment to remaining independent.
On Wednesday, there were initial indications that enough ACC presidents were ready to vote in favor of admitting Cal and Stanford after several days of discussions. Expansion was seen as a way to bolster the long-term security of the conference. However, by evening, it became apparent that there was not enough consensus among the 15 schools to proceed with a vote. The ACC requires the approval of three-fourths of the conference’s presidents/chancellors, meaning 12 out of 15 schools.
The ACC presidents met earlier in the week to evaluate the potential additions of Cal and Stanford. At that time, the league was still deliberating, with no immediate decisions expected. The athletic directors also held multiple calls to examine the financial implications.
These deliberations over Cal and Stanford come at a crucial moment when several dissatisfied schools must decide by next week whether or not to leave the conference. There is a deadline for schools to notify the ACC if they intend to switch conferences for the 2024 season, and Florida State has been publicly voicing its dissatisfaction with the current revenue distribution. Additionally, seven schools have been exploring options outside of the ACC.
While it is widely expected that no schools will leave immediately, the uncertainty surrounding the situation has left the conference in a state of flux. Unlike other conferences, such as the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12, which have made significant moves in recent years to solidify their positions, the ACC has largely remained quiet during this period of realignment.
The ACC’s pursuit of Cal and Stanford represents an effort to address potential departures and fortify the conference, but reaching a unanimous decision among all schools has proven challenging. The league must carefully consider its future in terms of revenue and stability while factoring in the varying interests of its member institutions. The discussions are ongoing, and the ACC will continue to navigate the complex landscape of conference realignment.
