ACC adds Stanford, Cal and SMU
The Atlantic Coast Conference has added Stanford, Cal, and SMU to the conference. The three schools were added to the conference after ACC presidents and chancellors voted in favor of expansion, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. All three schools will be added to the conference for the 2024-25 season.
The ACC now sits with 18 members. With Notre Dame’s partial inclusion, the conference has 17 full-time football members.
The final vote for expansion ended in a 12-3 vote. The three opposing schools were Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina.
This move continues the shatter of the PAC-12. The Big Ten added Washington and Oregon. Arizona State, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado are all heading to the Big 12.
The ACC essentially saved Stanford and Cal who were left in the sinking Pac-12. The two schools were looking for a conference and ACC ended up being the taker.
As for SMU, this move allowed them to elevate from the Group of Five level to join a Power Five conference. In that regard, it presents the Mustangs with massive opportunities moving forward.
Stanford, Cal, and SMU are all taking a reduced share in media revenue to join the ACC, according to Thamel. For the first seven years in the conference, Stanford and Cal will be given a 30 percent share of ACC payouts. In years seven through ten, their shares will gradually increase before getting a full revenue share. As for SMU, they will not receive a share in media revenue until their tenth year in the conference.
This move is symbolic of the changing landscape of college athletics. It is quite ironic that the Atlantic Coast Conference is adding two teams from the Pacific Coast and one team from Texas. I do not envy the student-athletes that will be traveling from coast to coast.
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