ACC to Explore Adding Cal, Stanford Per Report
The ACC will have exploratory discussions surrounding adding California and Stanford to the conference, according to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel.
"ACC leaders are set to begin exploratory discussions on the potential additions of Cal and Stanford to the conference, sources told ESPN on Monday," Thamel said in his report. "Sources cautioned that the two scheduled discussions are in the embryonic stages -- one call slated with the ACC athletic directors and a separate call with the league's presidents that will play out on Monday and Tuesday."
The report quoted an ACC source indicating the additions would be complicated due to the travel that would be involved for current member schools.
Outside of location, the profile of the programs would make some sense. Both strong academic schools with some traditional success in football. Recently both have struggled, but it would also open a whole new market to the ACC. In the modern era of collegiate athletics, that is the primary driver of all decisions as it means more money in television contracts. The addition of those schools would give the ACC 16 full time football members.
Cal and Stanford are two of only four remaining Pac-12 schools along with Washington State and Oregon State in the wake of the latest school movement in conference realignment. Washington and Oregon bolted for the Big-10, while Utah, Arizona and Arizona State left for the Big-12.
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