In a summer ablaze with conference realignment rumors and shifts, the landscape of college sports is undergoing a seismic transformation.
As the Pac-12 conference faces a potential dismantling, the spotlight now falls on the remaining institutions searching for a new athletic home.
Recent reports suggest that the Atlantic Coast Conference may become the unexpected destination for two iconic West Coast universities, Stanford and Cal, and the driving force behind this move is none other than Notre Dame.
Notre Dame pushing ACC to add Stanford & Cal, while SMU would join w/no revenue the 1st 5-7 years in ACC, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. "Notre Dame continues to push, yet won’t join as a full-time member,” a source said. "That makes no sense to us."https://t.co/PkUIPBB0kv
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 9, 2023
With only Stanford, Cal, Oregon State, and Washington State remaining in the Pac-12, the conference’s future hangs in the balance. The Big Ten and Big 12 have already secured major acquisitions over the past two years, leaving the Pac-12 struggling to retain its once-prominent position.
USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington have all defected to the Big Ten, while Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah have joined the Big 12 this summer.
Notably, Notre Dame’s unique status as a “full voting member” within the ACC has positioned the Fighting Irish as influential players in the conference’s decisions. This role has empowered Notre Dame to push for the inclusion of Stanford and Cal into the ACC fold.
The fact that they’re reportedly trying to campaign for the additions of Stanford and Cal has annoyed many since they refuse to enter the conference as a football member themselves.
Some are arguing that Notre Dame has too much power and influence in a conference that they are not full members of.
While conference realignment generates excitement and intrigue, it also raises critical questions about contractual obligations. The ACC’s “grant of rights” agreement, which binds member schools to the conference’s TV deal until 2036, has drawn mixed reactions.
Powerhouses like Florida State and Clemson have expressed discontent with the current arrangement, sparking speculations about their potential departure.
The coming years may witness tense negotiations and strategic maneuvering as institutions assess their options within this framework.
As far as the fate of the remaining four Pac-12 members, we should soon find out what the future holds. The ACC would be a strange fit, especially considering geographically with the three-hour time difference, etc.
However, abnormal has become the new normal in the world of college athletics.
What do you think the ACC should do?
If Notre Dame won’t join as a football member, should they have as much power and influence within the conference as they do?
What will happen with Stanford and Cal?
Is Stanford indeed the most attractive Pac-12 school remaining?
What a time to be alive!