Reports say ACC, not the Big Ten, reviewing possible additions of Cal and Stanford

Reports say the ACC, not the Big Ten, could be thinking about adding Cal and Stanford.

If the most logical place for Pac-12 leftovers Cal and Stanford was supposed to be the Big Ten, then the ACC may be trying to proactively fly in to scoop up the Bears and Cardinal before the Big Ten has a chance. The Associated Press has reported the ACC is reviewing the possibility of adding Cal and Stanford to the conference.

Cal and Stanford are the two most attractive expansion candidates from the four remaining Pac-12 members. Academically, the two schools would be good fits for the Big Ten and ACC. Geographically, the Big Ten would now make more sense compared to the ACC if only because the Big Ten is about to have four west coast members in 2024, alleviating a good amount of travel expense concerns for a school like Stanford in particular.

The Big Ten will be adding USC, UCLA, Orgeon, and Washington in 2024. At the same time, the Big 12 will welcome Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to the conference.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the next 24 hours could be very interesting for the possible expansion of the ACC to include Cal and Stanford.

The Big Ten may not be done with expansion just yet, but Cal and Stanford figured to at least be on the radar for any future move by the conference. But if the last two California schools from the Pac-12’s remains do end up aligning with the ACC, that would seem to bring any possible Big Ten expansion to a halt, for now.

There is still an eye on the developments with Florida State, which has made it clear it would not blink twice leaving the ACC if it was deemed beneficial and necessary. And if Florida state left, and the Big Ten was the landing spot, the Big Ten would likely add at least one more member to get to an even 20 members. North Carolina and Virginia have been thought of as potential targets before. And, of course, there is always Notre Dame sitting out there.

Whatever the fate is for Cal and Stanford, there is still a question of what happens to Oregon State and Washignton State, the other two leftovers in the Pac-12 following the devastating expansion blows dealt by the Big Ten and Big 12 last week.

According to the same AP report, the American Athletic Conference has expressed an interest in adding all four schools to its membership. The AAC is not the only Group of Five conference investigating the Pac-12 schools still without a home. The Mountain West Conference is reportedly reviewing the possibility of adding Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washignton State.

So will Penn State be getting any more new conference foes to look forward to? We’ll wait to see how this all shakes out, because nothing is ever a done deal when it comes to conference realignment.

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