Report: ACC Presidents expected to meet tonight and possibly vote on adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU

Will the ACC expand to 17 programs and add Cal, Stanford, and SMU?

Earlier today, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that there was "continued momentum" for the ACC to add Cal, Stanford, and SMU. Thamel went on to say that ACC officials are working on gathering the presidents/chancellors on a call, which is expected to take place at some point this week.

It sounds like that meeting/call is going to take place tonight. 

According to Ross Dellenger at Yahoo Sports, ACC presidents have scheduled a call Monday night to discuss and possibly vote on adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU. Dellenger also reported that in the presented model, expansion would add $55M annually for ACC to share via an incentive pool. 

ACC presidents have scheduled a call Monday night to discuss & possibly vote on adding Cal, Stanford & SMU, sources tell @YahooSports.

In the presented model, expansion would add ~$55M annually for ACC to share via incentive pool as we reported last week https://t.co/D66EGPZCuL

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 28, 2023

This report was also confirmed by Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. 

The full group of ACC presidents is expected to meet tonight and potentially formally vote on adding Stanford, Cal and SMU, a league source told @TheAthletic.@RossDellenger first reported the meeting.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 28, 2023

Earlier this morning, Thamel reiterated that nothing has been finalized yet and the details are "only in pencil" for now as far as adding the three schools. He did say however that a decision is expected one way or the other on expansion this week and that officials are still working specifically on how to divide the pool of money that would be split up among ACC members after the three schools join. He said the amount is expected to be $50-$60 million annually and that some of that will be distributed to all members and the rest would be put into a pool for success initiatives. It sounds like that decision could come as early as tonight. 

That amount is expected to be between $50 and $60 million annually. Some of that will be distributed to all members, and the rest would be put into a pool for success initiatives.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 28, 2023

Notre Dame is one of the 15 votes that decide on ACC expansion and athletic director Jack Swarbrick has been pushing hard for the additions of Cal and Stanford:

"You can't have two of the great academic institutions in the world not have a place to play. We're working on (a solution). There is still consideration of the ACC as a home for those schools."

Swarbrick also made broader comments on the state of college athletics and what is happening right now:

"A complete disaster” what’s happened in college athletics. “Everybody in the industry has to take responsibility here I'm not excluding myself from that. I think the decision-making lost its way in terms on the focus of the student athlete & what's primarily best for them.”

Will the ACC expand and add Cal, Stanford, and SMU? / Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Something that will be discussed if the three schools are added: Will the ACC continue to add members (or member) to get to an even number?

Here is what AllYellowJackets writer Matthew Kistner wrote when discussing Georgia Tech's options in the midst of conference realignment and who the ACC could add through expansion:

"With the primary members threatening to leave on the basis of poor revenue deals, the conference could strive for adding new teams to bolster better commercial interest and thus generate more revenue. Teams such as Notre Dame, West Virginia, Tulane, South Florida, East Carolina, Liberty, Ohio, Marshall, Appalachian State, Troy, or Memphis could make good additions in a geographical sense. 

The western move or poaching West Virginia from the Big 12 would garner the most revenue in my opinion as it would activate a new audience in the West for ACC football that could bring companies calling for television rights. West Virginia also brings its passionate fan base and rivalry with Pittsburgh that would spark interest of all fans. Unfortunately, all of these situations are a stretch for the ACC and more likely than not will not happen. Facing reality, the ACC is in a difficult bind and I am not too optimistic on the future of the conference."

Back in July, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips was asked about the prospect of adding Notre Dame Football to the ACC, and here is what he had to say:

"We've had a lot of conversations, let me put it bluntly, with Notre Dame, and they've been very clear. They value their independence, and I think they feel strongly that that will continue well into the future. If they ever have the desire of joining the conference, they know that we would welcome them with open arms, but I think -- I can't speak for Jack right now and Pete in the future or Father John, but I think it's been a healthy relationship both ways for the ACC and for Notre Dame. Their sports, other than football, I think have thrived in the ACC. I think they really enjoy the academic prowess that the ACC brings as well, but they've been pretty clear about their desire to stay independent. So I don't see that changing any time soon."

Stay tuned for the latest news regarding conference realignement. 

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