According to Mike Farrell Sports’ Rock Westfall, there’s speculation that Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Syracuse could potentially be ousted from the ACC. This idea stems from a report by Pete Cordelli, as mentioned during an appearance on The Bill King Show in Nashville.
The rationale behind this proposal is that removing lower-performing teams could free up funds for the top-tier programs in the conference.
Westfall suggests that programs like Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Syracuse, which either lack serious football prominence or struggle to generate significant revenue, could be targets for removal. This sentiment was echoed by Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard, who discussed a similar concept, albeit not specific to the ACC.
Pollard also mentioned the possibility of conferences like the SEC and the Big Ten shedding teams such as Vanderbilt and Northwestern to maintain their competitive edge. He highlighted the dynamic where those with substantial resources dictate the terms, hinting at a potential future where top teams may no longer see value in retaining underperforming counterparts.
While the ACC might consider trimming its membership to ensure its survival, the SEC and Big Ten could do so with profit motives in mind. However, whether these teams would indeed be ousted depends on factors like the availability of replacement schools such as FSU, Clemson, UNC, UVA, Louisville, and Miami.
Overall, if Westfall and Cordelli’s speculations hold weight, institutions like Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Syracuse might need to explore alternatives to ACC affiliation in the near future.
