ACC Presidents Meet to Discuss Next Steps in Wake of Conference Realignment (Report)

The Atlantic Coast Conference is trying to solidify its future as a new wave of conference realignment changes the collegiate athletics landscape.

Everything in college athletics is driven by money, and the largest driver of that is football. That is why football is king with schools making decisions based solely on football and corresponding revenue. With media rights money leading to the implosion of the Pac-12, causing all but four schools to bolt for new conference homes, ACC presidents met Friday night to discuss its next steps in the wake of the latest realignment wave. This according to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports. 

In addition, Dellenger reports that the ACC seriously considered adding five to seven of the Pac-12 teams before they bolted for the Big-12 and Big-10. Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are headed to the Big-12, while Washington and Oregon are off to the Big 10. California, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State remain. Stanford is the most attractive option of that group, but none move the needle enough to make much of an impact for the ACC. 

This all comes as Florida State has recently publicly voiced its displeasure with the revenue distribution, fearing it is falling too far behind schools in the SEC and Big-10. With the Big-12's new additions, there is risk that the ACC could fall behind it as well. That would put the ACC fourth among the remaining power four conferences assuming the Pac-12 does in fact fold as a result of recent departures. Not a great position to be given the current landscape. 

In the ACC's favor is a Grant of Rights deal through 2036 that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars for a school to back out from. However, it was reported on Friday that Florida State is working with JP Morgan Chase to explore how the school's athletic department could raise capital. That could mean searching for funds to pay that large exit fee. 

Conference realignment is far from over, and the ACC needs to do something in order to secure its future. Otherwise, it could see the same fate as the Pac-12 at some point. 

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