Clemson Football will take the field in Durham on Labor Day evening, but the off-the-field saga of conference realignment didn’t appear to have a resolution.
The Atlantic Coast Conference was still debating whether they should expand by adding Stanford, California, and SMU.
It appears the debate is over.
Tiger Illustrated has revealed that the conference has voted to approve the additions of the three new schools.
#BREAKING: ACC presidents have voted to add Stanford, California and SMU to the conference, https://t.co/bqcUhaTXPs has learned. #CLEMSON https://t.co/SZY80zl3Me
— Tigerillustrated.com (@TIinClemson) September 1, 2023
The ACC originally planned to meet on the subject of expansion on Monday, but the tragic events that unfolded on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill caused a postponement. College Football Playoff meetings on Wednesday further delayed the rescheduled discussions.
Andrea Adelson and Ross Dellinger shared that the meeting would happen this morning.
ACC presidents have rescheduled their call for Friday morning to further discuss & potentially vote on adding Cal, Stanford & SMU, sources tell @YahooSports, as @aadelsonESPN reported.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 31, 2023
Our earlier story diving into the latest expansion financial model https://t.co/D66EGPZCuL
The previous discussion regarding expansion seemed to be over last month when it was revealed that only eleven schools favored adding new programs. Twelve of the fifteen voting institutions would have to vote in favor of expansion for it to happen.
Clemson, Florida State. North Carolina and North Carolina State were against the expansion. One of them needed to flip their vote to add the new schools.
Recent discussions have been about the extra revenue distribution that could be attained by adding the new programs. SMU appears willing to opt out of television revenues for some time, and Stanford and California appear willing to take reduced shares.
New revenue convinced someone to change their vote for expansion to proceed
With the extra monies required from ESPN for the new additions, the ACC could incentivize achievement on the field by offering more revenue to programs that are typically competing on a national stage.
Comments last night from UNC made the likelihood of a vote changing seem low.
North Carolina Board of Trustees chair Dave L. Boliek Jr. says the majority of UNC's board opposes ACC expansion. He sent this statement to @247Sports. pic.twitter.com/FO3J0NiaHB
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 1, 2023
There was speculation that UNC and NC State were likely to remain in lockstep, as both institutions are state-funded and led by the same governing body.
The Tigers appeared to be a no-vote.
Not that this is a surprise, but ahead of tomorrow’s ACC meeting — am told Clemson remains against expansion. Clemson never wavered on that and will be voting no if a vote takes place
— Matt Connolly (@MattConnollyOn3) September 1, 2023
There does not appear immediate information regarding who changed their vote.