Sources: ACC plans calls to discuss Cal, Stanford

• Pete Thamel, ESPNAug 7, 2023, 04:42 PM ET

ACC leaders are set to start exploratory discussions on the potential additions of Cal and Stanford to the conference, sources informed ESPN on Monday.Sources warned that the 2 set up conversations are in the embryonic phases– one call slated with the ACC athletic directors and a different call with the league’s presidents that will play out on Monday and Tuesday.With the Pac-12 to just 4 schools after the defection of five universities on Friday, the 4 staying schools– consisting of Cal and Stanford– are rushing to discover places to land. Both have elite scholastic credibilities and Stanford consistently has the nation’s finest top-to-bottom athletic department, however the reverberations of adjustment have left them at a crossroads.There will be headwinds to a move for Cal and Stanford to the ACC, as sources on Monday warned about the intricacies included.”

It’s made complex,”an ACC source said.”There’s a substantial travel expense. I think it’s going to be all over the board with both the ADs and

the presidents in what they might want to do. [Cal and Stanford] would likely have to take a minimized share. Eventually, however, they’re going to wish to end up being a full share.”Editor’s Picks 2 Related Financial resources will be critical in the conversations. The ACC is locked into a tv handle ESPN through 2036 that several members have actually publicly griped about being constrictive financially for long-term success. The deal jobs to put schools like FSU and Clemson almost$ 30 million each year behind schools in the SEC and Big Ten.The latest outburst came recently from Florida State, whose president and board members managed an uncommon public protest– threatening to leave if more money from the ACC’s existing deal isn’t shifted towards FSU.The potential additions of Cal and Stanford do not job to be monetary game-changers, per sources. And while the addition of the scholastic prestige of schools like Cal and Stanford would definitely thrill some ACC presidents, the fiscal benefit appears limited.”There’s no windfall for the current members,”the ACC source said, showing that it’s difficult to visualize any scenarios where it would be considerably additive for the existing schools.As the Pac-12 collapsed recently, there were talks and concepts exchanged between as lots of as 7 Pac-12 schools and the ACC

for possibly combining, adding schools or doing something with scheduling. There were official talks, per sources. But none seemed ultimately grained in reality for fiscal reasons.For Stanford and Cal

, no perfect alternatives exist. They’ve worked together on some alternatives with Oregon State and Washington State, the other 2 remaining members of the Pac-12. The academic prestige of Stanford and Cal might give them more options.Among them, those four schools have taken a look at adding a few other schools to get the league over six programs for next year, which might

in theory keep NCAA units and some type of CFP payout. They ‘d then construct a West Coast-based league once the buyout from Mountain West schools is lowered after the 2024-25 season. They ‘d have to potentially look to AAC or Sun Belt schools in Texas for instant members, however the allure of a

collaboration with such prestigious scholastic schools would at least cause presidents to listen.The ACC is at 14 full-time football members. As of next season, the Big 10 is up to 18, the Huge 12 depends on 16 and the SEC is also approximately 16 members.