REALIGNMENT…Best case scenario for ACC

There has been much said and written lately about the next conference realignments, specifically pertaining to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the next realignment in 2030-31.

There has been talk about Miami, FSU, Clemson moving to the Big Ten or the SEC conferences. There’s been reports of an ACC-Big12 merger. There’s even been talk about Clemson, Miami and FSU going independent.

After months of discussion and debate, the team here at CaneReports has come to the conclusion that the best case scenario for the University of Miami would be to remain in the ACC. However, it would be a very different ACC.

The conference would need to make a major strategy shift.

A. The ACC would need to expand to 20 full member schools. Strength in numbers to protect their power conference designation and to become more attractive to the networks.

B. Push for Notre Dame as a full member school. Make it financially worth it for them with a clear path to the national playoffs. It would give the conference four blue blood brands in football and three in basketball.

C. Retreat from western expansion. It has been a failure from a fan failure and travel burden for the conference. Staying east of the Mississippi buttresses the conference from the SEC and B1G.

D. Move back to Regional Divisions. Divide the twenty schools into two divisions, playing a nine-game division schedule, plus two cross games and one non-conference game. The conference championships will include a four-school playoff.

So, what would the NEW Atlantic Coast Conference look like?

North Division:

Notre Dame

Pittsburgh (Pitt)

West Virginia

Louisville

Boston College

Connecticut (UConn)

Syracuse

Memphis or Cincinnati

Army

Navy

Notre Dame:

The big elephant in the room is Notte Dame. Throw money at them. Despite ACC playing five games a year against the Irish, it the ACC didn’t a image lift when Notre Dame finished as national runner up last season. What would the narrative been around the ACC had Notre Dame been a full member last season?

If the Irish insist about staying independent, terminate the scheduling agreement with the Irish. It only hurts the conference from an image perspective.

Rivalries:

The NEW ACC would feature a very attractive lineup of major rivalries in the mid-west and east, including Army-Navy, Pitt-West Virginia, Navy-Notre Dame, Syracuse-Army and Notre Dame-everyone.

Midwest Presence:

The northern division would give the ACC presence in the midwest. Big Ten would no longer have “total” control of the television/streaming markets in this geographic region with Notre Dame, Louisville, Cincinnati/Memphis and West Virginia.

East Presence:

The NEW ACC would dominate the northeast region with schools like Pitt, Syracuse, Army, Navy, Boston College and UConn.

South Division:

Miami

Florida State

Clemson

Virginia Tech

Virginia (UVA)

North Carolina

Duke

NC State

Georgia Tech

Central Florida (UCF)

Tradition:

The NEW ACC South Division would maintain and strengthen its traditional roots along the Atlantic seaboard. By adding UCF in a major market in Florida, it would buttress its recruiting advantage against invasion from the SEC, B1G and Big12.

Recruiting:

The NEW ACC would strengthen an already strong recruiting presence in the talent-rich states of Florida and Georgia.

Rivalries:

The NEW ACC would feature a very attractive lineup of major rivalries in the Southeast region. Rivalries include Miami-Florida State, UNC-Duke, Clemson-Georgia Tech, Virginia- Virginia Tech Clemson-Miami, UCF-FSU and Miami-Virginia Tech. These big games will strengthen the ACC’s media rights value.

BOTTOM LINE:

The NEW Atlantic Coast Conference checks all the boxes…attractive major brands, regional divisions, high academic standards and strength in numbers.

Now, make it happen.

GO CANES!