The other day, we made the larger overall point that Stanford University has a lot of avenues to consider as it tries to plot its next move in college sports realignment.
The Cardinal could seek membership in the ACC. They could try to get into the Big Ten. Many insiders and experts think that is Stanford’s No. 1 choice and preferred outcome, but we don’t know how much the Big Ten wants that same outcome.
The Cardinal could go independent in football and join a Power Five conference in other sports. They could pursue a Pac-4 merger with Mountain West and/or AAC schools in which the Pac-12, as a purely legal and contractual matter, continues to exist and thereby retains its annual payouts and distributions for the College Football Playoff and NCAA Tournament. Stanford would reduce its revenue losses and salvage a less-than-ideal situation with a tolerable (though not great) outcome.
Stanford has a lot to think about, and we do think it prefers the Big Ten if we’re being honest. However, let’s say for the sake of discussion that Stanford wants to get into the ACC.
If the Cardinal like that choice and want to make it happen, there’s a way for the school to execute a plan.
Let’s look at the details: