INDEPENDENCE?

-Editorial-

October 24, 2026 - Miami president Joe Echevarria has triggered a fire storm in college athletics this week. He pronounced, in an interview, why Miami wants out of the ACC and would go independent if needed.

Why would schools like Miami, FSU and Clemson seriously consider leaving the conference? Are there others schools ready to go independent?

The answer is simple. The ACC and the NCAA just need to look in the mirror. A governing structure who’s foundation is based on conferences has caused ALL the current problems in college athletics. Excellence is not rewarded in a conference structure. Equal shares didn’t work in socialism. It’s not working for the NCAA.

Notre Dame has been steadfast in their determination to stay independent . Why? The Irish have not and are not encumbered by the politics of a conference. Top college programs have propped up the conference bottom feeders for decades. FSU and Clemson sued the ACC for a bigger share of the profits while schools like Boston College, Syracuse and Wake Forest and others got an equal share of the pie. Such subsidies are killing college athletics.

Why would successful brands want to share their profits with uncompetitive programs? It doesn’t make sense in a free enterprise market.

So, why aren’t the big brands running for their independence?

Risk - College programs would have to be accountable for results. That could be scary in the world of academics.

Scheduling - College programs would have to be responsible for their own scheduling and not depend on a conference.

Revenue Generation - College programs would be responsible for selling their product to run the business. And their product must be good or not many folks will buy it. College programs would have to negotiate their media rights.

Not many in the academic world are comfortable competing.

So, which schools might choose independence and why?

Notre Dame:

Already there and successful.

Miami:

The university president came from the business world and is changing the culture at the U. He also wrote a letter against passage of current congressional legislation that would restrict the rights of colleges to control their own business.

Florida State:

FSU has already sued its conference over these issues. Recently, the university president signed a letter against passage of current U.S. congressional legislation that would restrict the rights of colleges to control their own business.

Clemson:

see Florida State.

Texas Tech:

Has already clashed swords with the Big-12 conference and sued in court. They may not be happy campers at this time A major booster is from the business world and is pounding the war drums.

North Carolina:

A member of the original “ACC 7” and Its university president signed the letter against government interference

LSU:

The Tigers recently clashed with the SEC in court over eligibility rules. Reports indicate LSU is not happy with the SEC.

TheBuyout:

The buyout cost for each of these schools would be significant but by 2030 they would be manageable.

What IF…

What if the Canes scheduled each of these schools plus 3 more schools in 2031?

For the ACC schools on our list, the conference would need to vote to dissolve the conference by majority vote (10 or more votes needed.) These ten ACC schools must have a place to land as independents.

Let’s look at a mock-up home & home schedule for Miami for 2031.

1. UConn

2. Texas Tech

3. North Carolina

4. LSU

5. Clemson

6. Notre Dame

7. SMU

8. Virginia Tech

9. Louisville

10. Pittsburgh

11. Georgia Tech

12. Florida State

BOTTOM LINE:

These schools would be an attractive schedule and would make it much easier to give up their dependence on a flawed conference structure. And it might set up some magical matchups.

GO CANES!