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What if Miami stays in ACC but…

ljm623
8 hours ago
2 min read

Nov. 12, 2026 - Miami's president may have given us a sneak preview of Miami’s future. There has been a lot of buzz lately about Miami, FSU, Clemson and North Carolina going independent. However TJ Pittinger, of ACC Addiction, has raised another option for these four schools.


What if Miami remains a member of the ACC in all sports but football?


CaneReports sat down and broke down this scenario. How could this option get traction?


The ACC would have to be agreeable.


Notre Dame has already set the president, but it doesn’t mean the ACC would accept such a deal. The Irish have a higher value than the Canes. Still, the conference is not in a position of strength with Miami, FSU, Clemson and UNC threatening to leave the conference in 2030-31 for three-year “independence tour.”


If the ACC does accept such an arrangement, how might it look?


Miami and the ACC could use the Notre Dame model to start. Miami agrees to give the ACC five games each year (same as Notre Dame) in exchange for allowing the Canes to compete in all other sports.


Miami could then schedule five independents (Notre Dame, FSU, Clemson, UNC, UConn) to a four-year home & home scheduling agreement. Miami would have ten guaranteed games on the books during the three-year CPF requirement. The remaining two games each year could be scheduled on Home&home agreements with other FBS schools.


Miami then inks a deal with a media partner (NBC, Amazon, Netflix) to broadcast all Miami home games (at least six games) each year.


Let’s look at this model in detail (but not in chronological order)


  1. ACC opponent

  2. ACC opponent

  3. ACC opponent

  4. ACC opponent

  5. ACC opponent

  6. Notre Dame

  7. FSU

  8. Clemson

  9. UNC

  10. UConn

  11. FBS opponent (i.e. Penn State)

  12. FBS opponent (i.e. Texas Tech)


BOTTOM LINE:

At the end of four years, Miami would have honored the three-year CFP independence requirement and could become a member of a Power Four conference OR remain an independent. That might turn out to be not be a bad option, if structured strategically.


Joe would be proud.


GO CANES!

 
 
 

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