ACC Expands with Stanford, Cal, and SMU: A Controversial Move

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has announced that Stanford, Cal, and SMU will join as new members in the 2024-25 school year. The decision was reached after negotiations regarding finances, with SMU accepting no ACC media rights revenue for nine years and Stanford and Cal initially receiving reduced revenue shares. The expansion will extend the ACC's footprint from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the few power conferences with members on both coasts. The move provides important opportunities for Cal and Stanford, whose options were limited after six Pac-12 schools left the league. The financial agreements between the ACC and the new members will create a pool of over $50 million to be distributed among current members, helping to close the financial gap with other conferences.