Source says ACC moving toward westward expansion with Stanford, Cal, SMU possible targets

Atlantic Coast Conference making progress toward an expansion that can hold Stanford And California from drowning pac 12A person with direct knowledge of the ACC’s possible move told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not making its internal discussions public.

On the possibility of the extension being approved, the person said, “It is picking up pace.”

Two weeks ago, the ACC proceeded to assemble its entire board of university leaders twice over three days to consider adding Stanford, Cal and possibly Cal. SMUAmerican Athletic Conference school based in Dallas. He never took an official vote, knowing he would not have the 12 of the 15 votes needed to approve the expansion.

How the new revenue generated by adding members to the conference will be distributed has been a significant issue for many schools. Florida State, Clemson And North Carolina,

But the issue was never closed.

The person said commissioner Jim Phillips continues to work on a revenue distribution model that would direct a large portion of the money ESPN pays the conference to the addition of three new members to a pool that is performance-based. Pays Bonus.

The person said the league was trying to arrange a meeting of its athletic directors for Thursday, but so far no meeting of the full board of presidents and chancellors was scheduled.

ACC leaders agreed earlier this year to a “Success Incentive Initiative” that would allow schools to earn more money generated by their own postseason performance. Media rights revenue is shared equally in the ACC, but expansion could force a change in that philosophy.

Schools that join the new conference often receive a smaller share of the revenue. Stanford notified Pac-12 partners last week Oregon State And Washington State It had told the ACC that it was ready to join with a very small stake or even without media rights revenue for several years.

Eight members have been dropped from the Pac-12 who have already announced they will join. big ten Or big 12 In August 2024.

This has left Stanford and Cal desperate to find another power conference home.

ESPN was the first to report that the ACC is ramping up its expansion talks.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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