The ACC has made the decision to go to 18.
After a vote this morning from school chancellors and presidents, the league has decided to add three new member schools - Cal, Stanford, and SMU, starting all sports play in the 2024-25 school year.
The decision this morning came after initial votes left the three schools one yes short of acceptance. that vote reportedly came this morning after NC State chancellor Randy Woodson flipping.
ACC brodcaster Wes Durham joined this morning's Steakhouse to break down the ACC's decision to expand. For starters, why add schools that are halfway across the country? "They're bringing together the two largest television subscription states in the country", Wes told Steak and Sandra.
And like most things, money is the absolute driving force behind making a decision like this. "Presidents and chancellors in this country have gotten wrapped up in the money they don't have. They've gotten wrapped up in future money, not current money." And when you see the money that other conferences are getting in expansion, adding more schools seems like no brainer for the ACC.
Wes, however, doesn't think this is the end, even for the new ACC schools added today. "It's a seven to ten year window now where we're going to have this flux. Cal and Stanford joined today, and in eight years, I can see where Cal and Stanford go to the Big 12, and I can see West Virginia and Cincinnati join the ACC."