Report: ACC targeting surprising school as possible addition
Sep 19, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of the Atlantic Coast Conference logo on a yard marker during the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The recent Pac-12 exodus has launched another conference re-alignment free-for-all, and the ACC is looking to get in on the act. One of their targets, however, is a surprising one.
The ACC is eyeing SMU as a potential addition to the conference, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. League administrators are studying potential financial ramifications of adding SMU in addition to previously-reported Cal and Stanford.
SMU is another expansion target for the ACC, a source confirms to @TheAthletic. The league’s administrators are expected to review financials later today related to adding only Cal & Stanford and also all three. @RossDellenger first reported the SMU piece.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 8, 2023
An ACC move would be a no-brainer for SMU, which has been trying to leave the AAC for a power conference for years. From the ACC’s point of view, however, it is a strange fit. The football program has essentially hovered around .500 for several years, and the basketball team last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2017. However, adding the Mustangs would give the ACC access to the Texas market, not to mention the private university’s deep pockets.
The ACC does appear eager to add schools in some form, though there are certainly more obvious targets. There are merits to bringing SMU in, though as with most conference changes, they’re mostly financial.