ACC continues to evaluate expansion, how SMU would fit

The Atlantic Coast Conference hasn’t made a formal vote on conference expansion, but the picture appears to becoming somewhat clearer. SMU’s still in the running to land an invitation, but how does it land one?

That isn’t an easy answer, but there’s very much hope still on the table. Here’s why the Mustangs are still in the running and what we’re hearing on how an invitation could come.

As the ACC began to explore expansion with Cal, Stanford and SMU, there was some buzz it’d get pushed across the finish line. SMU was offering incredible terms to forgo its revenue while Cal and Stanford were looking at a reduced share.

Notre Dame’s in the corner of expansion and for all three schools, I’m told. But the Irish can’t control something the ACC schools don’t seem to want to budge on — traveling to California.

The travel time and expenses associated with adding two members to the league, one of which that doesn’t bring much to the table, is not something the league’s members appear to do want to do. Roadblocks have been reported around the California schools and things look completely on pause with regards to the California schools.

I did confirm Friday night that SMU is not dead in the water as a standalone option, sources say.

We previously reported earlier this week the schools standing in the way of expansion are Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina and NC State. Other outlets reported Friday those four as the ones that are standing in the way.

There’s context to everything.

SMU hanging around in ACC expansion talks

That group of four wants more money. That group of four eyes any way possible to bring in more revenue and wants its fellow members to foot the bill, in all likelihood.

Cal and Stanford’s push with their reduced share, expensive travel bills and other factors zeroed out in terms of value. So, the league is debating, why add them? It’s not far off from expansion with that group of schools standing in the way, but believe it or not, it’s starting to look like a tougher sell to flip the necessary votes for the California schools to get in.

Enter SMU. Zero revenue would head its way. Texas could be added as an in-state carrier for the ACC Network. Travel is not as grueling. It’s a school willing to invest in its future.

Now, we mentioned context, and that’s key. As ESPN explores what’s best for the league (meaning ESPN), there’s an avenue where things do get negotiated and we find all three in expansion. As of Friday night though, SMU is the most alive, according to my sources.

President R. Gerald Turner, Chairman of the Board of Trustees David Miller and SMU’s consultants have worked the phones hard to position the school as the prime candidate.

It might work, it might not. There are greedy schools involved looking for a bigger pay day in some way. That’s in the hands of the league to figure out how that would work out. It’s an internal battle that’s been raging for months now.

When it comes to Florida State and Clemson, there’s not much hope of flipping a vote, I’m told. It just doesn’t seem likely as the schools have their eyes elsewhere. Same could be said for North Carolina and NC State, but the door is creaked open there. UNC and NC State are voting together as they’re in the same system, but maybe there’s a way to break them apart.

Money talks. It’s what makes the realignment world go round.

The unanswered question is what would make one of those schools happy enough to change its vote? It’s not that they oppose expansion as much as it is leverage to grab more cash. Find the necessary cash, change a vote.

How do you fix that if you’re the ACC to expand and strengthen numbers? That’s above my pay grade.

What I know… SMU’s in it. So keep hoping for the best.

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