Four ACC schools oppose Cal and Stanford joining their league, according to multiple reports, and that’s one more than the Pac-12 vagabonds can have standing in the way.
In order to gain entry to the Atlantic Coast Conference, 12 of the 15 schools must approve a new member.
No formal vote has been taken, but Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and North Carolina State are known to be against bringing the Pacific Coast teams to the Atlantic coast.
Sports Illustrated, citing a source, described the expansion issue as being “on life support.” Talks among ACC presidents hit “significant roadblocks” during a meeting Wednesday night, according to ESPN.
Notre Dame is leading the charge for Cal and Stanford.
“The notion that two of the very best academic institutions in the world who also play [Division I] sports could be abandoned in this latest chapter of realignment is an indictment of college athletics,” Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick told ESPN this week.
Cal and Stanford are attractive to ACC school presidents for their academics and excellence in Olympic sports. However, athletic directors in the ACC are not enthralled with the Pac-12 for factors that include football performance, finances and West Coast travel.
Additionally, and most importantly, neither Cal nor Stanford is seen as a major financial boon to the ACC.
According to one report, there is a better chance of more schools joining opposition group than there is of Clemson, Florida State, UNC or NC State being swayed.
But there is a wild card in all of this. Florida State has expressed unhappiness with the ACC and suggested it would “very seriously” consider leaving the conference. Clemson is believed to have similar thoughts.
Any team that wants to leave the ACC for next season must notify the league by Tuesday. That could be as big a day for Stanford and Cal as for anybody.