The Atlantic Coast Conference, also known as the ACC, has voted to add three schools to the conference that aren't located remotely near the "Atlantic Coast"—Stanford, California, and SMU.
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The ACC welcomes Cal, SMU and Stanford to the league in 2024!
Read more: https://t.co/9vhMMdDCq1 pic.twitter.com/N2ugGLAert
— The ACC (@theACC) September 1, 2023
In adding these schools, it will now have 18 members, with 17 playing football full-time.
"We are thrilled to welcome three world-class institutions to the ACC, and we look forward to having them compete as part of our amazing league," ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. "Throughout the evaluation process, the ACC Board of Directors, led by [University of Virginia] President [James] Ryan, was deliberate in prioritizing the best possible athletic and academic experience for our student-athletes and in ensuring that the three universities would strengthen the league in all possible ways. Cal, SMU and Stanford will be terrific members of the ACC and we are proud to welcome their student-athletes, coaches, staff and entire campus community, alumni and fans."
For something like this to pass, there needs to be 12 votes of the 15 current members. Three weeks ago, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and NC State seemed to be against it. However, during the Friday vote, NC State flipped, making it 12.
There was some concern over NC State and UNC looking to be aligned due to "political ramifications." The ACC becomes the latest conference to make drastic changes. The Big Ten will have 18 teams, and the Big 12 and SEC will have 16. As the ACC adds these schools, the Pac-12 is left with just Washington and Oregon State. It's lost eight teams since July.
There are also some important notes about revenue and broadcasting:
- SMU comes in for nine years with no broadcast media revenue.
- Cal and Stanford receive a 30% share of ACC payouts.
This withheld money equals about $50-$60 million, which could be distributed to the 14 full-time schools and Notre Dame.
Now, we turn our attention to Florida State, which has been vocal about potentially leaving the conference if the revenue distribution doesn't change.
Nonetheless, the ACC has gotten stronger with some new programs, and the Pac-12 could be finished.
