3 ACC teams that could join Pac-12 amid major conference realignment moves ft. Stanford
With news of the buregoning (re-emerging?) Pac-12, some of the members of the sprawling ACC might want to make a move. Obviously, there are two former Pac-12 members who would be slam dunk possibilities to return.
But here's a trio of ACC schools that might want to join or rejoin the modified Pac-12 instead of sticking it out in the ACC.
3 ACC teams that could join (or rejoin) the Pac-12
#1.Stanford Cardinal
Stanford is perhaps the crown jewel of Pac-12 possibilities. The school just won the recent Learfield Cup, which ranks athletic programs across all sports. That's how good Stanford is at a bevy of different sports.
From a purely football standpoint, Stanford probably doesn't really move the needle for the Pac-12. The Cardinal aren't a football power. But they would be a massive prestige boost for the Pac-12, a tremendous addition in all sports, and another California school for the league. The Pac-12 would love to get Stanford back again.
#2. California Golden Bears
Cal is another old Pac-12 member who the league would love to get back again. While Cal doesn't have quite the same overall athletic prestige as Stanford (44th in the Learfield standings), it's still a prestigious athletic institution. It's also a slightly better football school than Stanford.
Last week, Cal took down SEC member Auburn in Week 2 action. The new Pac-12 will need prestigious members who can take down SEC or Big Ten teams. The Bears are an odd fit anyway in the ACC, and the Pac-12 was their home from 1919 through 2024. Surely, the league will figure out a way to get the Bears back.
#3. SMU Mustangs
Another potential ACC squad that might end up looking long and hard at the Pac-12 is SMU. The Mustangs are still one of the more western members of the ACC. They're a solid athletic program, but don't seem like a school that would enter the Pac-12 and dominate.
Texas is, of course, an important television market. Having a Texas school would leave the door open to drawing other Texas schools at some point. SMU would probably be one of the better football programs in the Pac-12 and would benefit from another competitive football program. Could SMU end up as an ACC squad?
Which teams do you think could leave the ACC to end up in the Pac-12? Share your thoughts and opinions below in our comments section!