College football realignment: What schools could move next in expansion?
For the second straight offseason, the map of college football conference allegiance has been forever re-drawn after another tidal wave of realignment that saw six more members of the Pac-12 run for the exits. Oregon and Washington will head to the Big Ten, in addition to USC and UCLA after their announcement last year, while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah are joining the Big 12, all effective next summer.
But it's not expected that the expansion steamroller will just stop there, not as long as any more potential revenue-generating schools remain on the market. And especially now, with a traditional football superpower openly saying that it may have to consider leaving its conference.
Who could be on the move next? Let's take a look at the most attractive options remaining on the realignment front.
Florida State: That aforementioned superpower is the Seminoles, whose president is now saying openly that the school may have to bail on the ACC in order to catch up with the SEC and Big Ten in terms of revenue. And those threats are credible, with insiders still of the opinion that FSU is leaning more towards making an exit than not, most likely in 2025. The school is looking into raising private equity capital, which could be an effort to raise funds for the ACC's massive exit fee that members have to pay if they leave before 2036. Where could the 'Noles go? The most likely option is the SEC based on geography. While we're a long way from anything being official, this is one to definitely watch out for.
Stanford: A highly-ranked athletic department, a major media market, a gigantic endowment, Olympic prestige, and an internationally-prestigious alumni base: There's a lot to like about Stanford, if anybody wants to make that trip out west. The Big Ten has been connected to the school, and the ACC is talking about it behind the scenes, even if a recent straw poll went against the idea.
Cal: This school seems to be a package deal along with Stanford, as both have been rumored to be the subject of interest from the ACC and Big Ten. Cal has played the Cardinal in The Big Game since 1892, and if one moves, it's expected the other will, too. UC Berkeley is also a highly-ranked university with a strong academic reputation, something the B1G takes into serious consideration.
Related: How realignment affects Oregon, Washington football rivalries
SMU: Something of a mixed bag, the Mustangs have some big upsides, like being based in the big Dallas media market, and in the recruiting-rich state of Texas, but some downsides, like not being a big winner, with just seven winning seasons and one 10-win campaign this century. The Big 12 didn't extend an invite during its recent expansion phase, and there is some trepidation from the ACC, as well. Perhaps the Pac-12, in its newfound desperation, could be interested.
Notre Dame: Alright, this one is definitely the least likely option. For more than a century, the Irish have cherished their football independence and cleverly negotiated the market to ensure they keep it. As long as ND has access to TV networks and the College Football Playoff, it will stay free. But if anything in the market should change that makes joining a conference more profitable than not, then the Irish will move. The school is a member of the ACC in other sports and there has been long-term interest from the Big Ten. Given the latter's huge TV contract, the B1G would be the most likely option. But only if it comes to that.
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