Saturday, October 10, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

ACC Slows Down Conference Expansion Talk, For Now

  • Southern Methodist University is now under consideration to join the ACC.
  • Cal and Stanford could expand the conference to 16 teams from coast to coast.
Jordan Hofeditz/Reporter-News/USA TODAY NETWORK

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Late Wednesday evening, ACC presidents decided not to vote on adding Pac-12 members Stanford and Cal to its conference, according to multiple reports.

The conference is also exploring the opportunity to add SMU, but wants to gather more information on all three schools, along with what ESPN is willing to do when it comes to potential additional revenue before moving further along with the process.

The conference’s slow deliberation is also holding up the Mountain West’s plans to explore expansion.

SEC Wants CFP Changes

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wants to reexamine how teams qualify for the financially lucrative, expanded College Football Playoff in the wake of conference realignment. 

This season, conferences will receive $6 million for each team making a CFP semifinal, though it’s still uncertain how much a berth in the 12-team postseason will garner next year.

The original plan was to award playoff berths to the six highest-ranked conference champions and next six highest-ranked teams. “There are elements and specifics of what was decided when we had clarity around 10 conferences that might need to be adjusted,” Sankey said on “Paul Finebaum Show” this week, likely hinting at more SEC representation in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Sankey said the SEC wasn’t actively recruiting any other schools for further expansion. 

“We have this contiguous group that has a national platform,” Sankey said. “We don’t need to be in four time zones to generate interest on the West Coast.” 

But Sankey wouldn’t rule out expansion in general if the right situation appeared. ACC schools Clemson and Florida State would easily fit into the conference’s current geographic footprint.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

ESPN Suffers Technical Troubles During Trump Visit

There was pregame chatter about whether presidential visits affect team communications.

The Biggest Question for LSU Men’s Basketball: Who Is on the Team?

Will Wade said LSU has 15 players but won’t release a list.

Chambliss Steals the Show During Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Return

Chambliss stayed at Ole Miss instead of following Kiffin to LSU.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/9/26 – MLB’s 154-Game Pitch, NFL Bets on SCOTUS, Shaq Says Barkley Isn’t Leaving

0:00

Featured Today

Action Images/Peter Cziborra

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.

Belichick, UNC Score Biggest Win Yet After Rocky Offseason

Belichick’s revamped UNC roster is beginning to show signs of progress.
October 9, 2026

Georgia-Alabama Braces for Hurricane, Trump Won’t Attend

Alabama banned tailgating and all outdoor activities on campus before noon.
Marina Williams-Walter Cronkite Sports Network
October 10, 2026

ASU Hockey Home Opener Marred by Player Collapse Fallout

ASU’s hockey home opener featured more absences amid an ongoing investigation.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Mar 29, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers mens basketball head coach Will Wade looks on against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
October 9, 2026

LSU Finally Reveals 10-Player Roster in Will Wade’s Exhibition Return

The game offered a glimpse into which LSU players are eligible.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning talks to Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola on the sideline as the Oregon Ducks face the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 12, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
October 9, 2026

How Oregon Beat College Football’s ‘Impossible’ Backup QB Market

Dylan Raiola will get the first start of his Oregon career on Saturday.
Jan 20, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark during the CFP host committee handoff press conference at Marriott Marquis Miami. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
First at FOS
October 8, 2026

CFP Director Supportive of 24 Teams, Endorses College Sports Bill

Rich Clark said a potential 24-team Playoff would be “spectacular.”
Farah O’Keefe NCAA
October 8, 2026

No. 1 Women’s Amateur Golfer Discusses Life As an ‘Infant Pro’

Farah O’Keefe won her first NCAA title in June.