Realignment: Miami options?

October 2, 2026 -

This week, the U.S. Senate passed the “Protect College Sports” act by an overwhelming 77-22 vote. The reaction was the bill would be easily passed in House of Representatives.

Not so fast friends, there is significant opposition in the House to parts of the bill .

Independent Waiting Period:

There is opposition to the “Independent” waiting period in the Senate bill. Any school currently in a Power 4 conference and wanted to move to another Power 4 conference would have to spend three years as an independent before joining another Power 4 conference. The opposition wants this struck from the bill.

Conference Membership Cap:

There also is concern about the conference membership cap of 20 schools per conference, despite a last minute house concession raising the cap from 19 to a 20 schools. House opposition wants no cap limit. The Senate leadership responded that their bill is final and that they would not vote for a bill that would effectively “blow up the ACC.” Any new cap could end up cementing the gap between the haves and the have-mores with a federal law.

A.

The U.S. Congress has until the end of the current session to pass this bill. If not passed by the end of this session, the process must start all over when the new congress convenes in 2027.

What are Miami’s options in realignment if this bill is passed as put forth by the senate.?

It’s unlikely Miami could afford a three-year wait as an independent. In this case, here are two options for the Canes.

A. Remain in the ACC and attempt to grow the conference to 20 schools. However, how many schools can financially afford a three-year wait? Only two make any sense. Notre Dame and Connecticut (UConn) since they are already independent and can join any conference immediately. However, Notre Dame would likely join the Big Ten. While UConn would bring a major brand in basketball, it would not bring much media value to football. But the ACC might go in this direction if Notre Dame leaves the conference. In the meantime, every effort should be made to get the Irish as a full member.

B. Lead a Palace Revolt: The ACC and Big-12 could withdraw from the NCAA and lead the formation of a new college athletic association with additional schools also withdrawing from the NCAA to form a 48-schools association.

An association of 48 schools could be organized in four divisions, each with 12 schools. Every school would play an 11-game division plus one cross-division match-up in the regular season, followed by playoffs and a championship tournament.

The new association would operate it own playoffs, championships and tournaments.

Here is a potential association structure.

East Division:

1. Notre Dame

2. Boston College

3. Connecticut (UConn)

4. Syracuse

5. Army

6. Pittsburgh

7. West Virginia

8. Navy

9. Virginia

10. Virginia Tech

11. James Madison

12. Liberty

South Division:

1. North Carolina

2. Duke

3. NC State

4. Wake Forest

5. Clemson

6. Georgia Tech

7. Tulane

8. Florida State

9. Central Florida

10. South Florida (USF)

11. Florida Atlantic (FAU)

12. Miami

Central Division

1. Cincinnati

2. Louisville

3. Houston

4. Baylor,

5. TCU

6. SMU

7. Texas Tech

8. New Mexico

9. Oklahoma State

10. Kansas

11. Kansas State

12. Iowa State

West Division:

1. Oregon State

2. Washington State

3. Boise State

4. BYU

5. Utah

6. Colorado

7. Stanford

8. California (Cal)

9. Arizona

10. Arizona State

11. UNLV

12. San Diego State

Major TV Markets: New York, Chicago, San Fransisco, Washington-Baltimore, Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio, Tampa, Louisville, Houston New Kansas City, Orleans, Memphis, Boise, Salt Lake, Tucson

BOTTOM LINE:

This new college athletic association would make an attractive media package during the next round media rights negotiations. Strength in numbers. Pease and stability and a level playing field.

GO CANES!