The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has made a significant decision that will shape the landscape of major college sports. They have voted to add Stanford, California, and SMU to their conference next year, creating a fourth super conference. This move not only increases the ACC’s revenue but also provides a landing spot for schools from the disintegrating Pac-12.
With this expansion, the ACC will increase its number of football schools to 17 and 18 in most other sports, while Notre Dame will remain a football independent. However, this decision did not come without controversy. The expansion required 12 out of the 15 ACC members to approve, and the voting was not unanimous. North Carolina and Florida State voted against it due to concerns about the ACC’s revenue distribution model.
The addition of Stanford and Cal from the Bay Area seems to signal an end to realignment among the nation’s wealthiest conference. These schools, along with SMU, will receive varying shares of the ACC’s media revenue based on their entry and years in the conference.
One of the main motivations behind this expansion is for the ACC to catch up to the Big Ten and SEC in terms of revenue. While the ACC has been generating record revenue, their new TV deals will increase the revenue gap with other conferences. The ACC plans to allocate the new revenue from ESPN for the expansion to existing members and performance bonuses.
However, concerns have been raised about the impact on athletes’ travel, changing recruiting landscape, and the loss of traditional rivalries. Additionally, this move has led to the departure of nine and ten schools from the Pac-12. The AAC, on the other hand, has decided to no longer pursue expansion with Oregon State and Washington, as they are potential members of the Pac-12.
Stanford, Cal, and SMU bring successful athletic programs to the ACC, with a history of producing Olympians and achieving overall athletic department success. For SMU, this is a significant step as they return to major conference football after being sanctioned and shut down by the NCAA in the 1980s.
The addition of Stanford, California, and SMU to the ACC creates a new chapter in college sports and will surely have a lasting impact. It remains to be seen how this expansion will unfold and what it means for the future of major college athletics.
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