In the wake of swirling rumors and speculation surrounding the future of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the University of North Carolina surprisingly finds itself at the center of attention.
When you think of the ACC in football terms, you immediately think of Clemson and Florida State. After all, those are the conference’s two biggest programs on the football side.
However, according to reports, it’s UNC who is viewed as the most valuable ACC university when it comes to potential conference realignment.
I’ve been saying this for MONTHS and y’all didn’t hear me Lmfao, the SEC needs to grab UNC man so badly pic.twitter.com/AkGqPwmbER
— Stef 🐯 (@TkachukFanAcc) March 20, 2024
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger has highlighted UNC as the “most attractive expansion target” for both the SEC and Big Ten when it comes to ACC schools.
UNC’s appeal to these conferences lies in its strategic geographical location within one of the largest states in the Southeastern United States, which has not yet been fully tapped into by either the SEC or the Big Ten.
FSU and Clemson have untethered from the ACC port and shoved off into the ocean. There is no turning back now.
But where will they go? Who else will join them? And will the ACC survive?
“North Carolina is the lynchpin.”
A @YahooSports analysis – https://t.co/6A9LWgPnPg
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 19, 2024
Of course, when you think about UNC you immediately think basketball. And while the Tar Heels basketball program certainly has value, we all know that football captains the ship.
Having said that, Chapel Hill’s geographical location more than anything is what reportedly makes them as attractive as they are.
Totally agree. UNC adds decent football, greet bball and a great academic reputation
— Matt at PopVinyls.com (@PopVinyls) March 21, 2024
Brad Crawford of 247Sports has shed light on UNC’s proactive stance amidst the shifting landscape of collegiate athletics.
UNC’s athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, is reportedly taking a “measured approach” to navigate the uncertainties of conference realignment.
“I don’t know where we’re going from a national governance standpoint,” Cunningham said. “Right now, you have to have a minimum of 16 sports to be at the highest level.”
“[NCAA President] Charlie Baker has a proposal out there that we want to enhance some of the benefits to students, we want to ensure that they graduate, we want to make sure they have great health care.”
“But the financial component of his proposal I don’t think has really been fully developed. I think that’ll have some impact on the future, whether or not the ACC schools can really compete at the highest level.”
“What we have to do short term is maximize our revenue. We need to continue to sell football tickets and basketball tickets and do what we can from a digital standpoint with the ACC.”
“There’s always going to be revenue gaps. It’s getting bigger, and it can be more challenging, but I’ve also said that we have a lot of things that other folks don’t have. We’re a great location. We’re in a great league. We have great competition. We have great coaches.”
“You don’t have to have the most money to win. And I think we’ve demonstrated that in every sport that we have,” he concluded.
Spoke with a bunch of sources this week on the latest Big Ten + SEC realignment buzz involving FSU, UNC, Clemson and others …
*IF* the ACC collapses, here's where I think each university will land in the near future: https://t.co/yYFtCfvU4V pic.twitter.com/hgcqDxgq0S
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) March 20, 2024
What are your thoughts on UNC being viewed as more valuable than Clemson and Florida State?
Perhaps the SEC and/or Big Ten ends up snatching all three … But if you were those conferences, which university would you target above all???
This is a TERRIBLE take.
UNC is a national brand. There’s a reason UNC is wanted by the Big 10 & SEC.
Not to mention, more titles and Final Fours. And for what it’s worth, most of your team’s players wear shoes with the silhouette of a former Tar Heel. But yeah, not relevant 🙄 pic.twitter.com/Yn6r0Lw88Z
— Andrew Forrest (@Andrew_Forrest1) March 21, 2024