Bruce Feldman explains how Notre Dame, ACC powers effect Pac-12's next move

The withdrawl of USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 leaves everything on the table for potential conference realignments moving forward. Schools that appeared locked in to their conferences no longer seem as secure. After the move from the Trojans and Bruins, it has left plenty of college analysts wondering which domino will fall next. FOX Sports’ and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman says we don’t need to look any further than the ACC.

In an interview on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, Feldman said the ACC’s members, specifically Notre Dame, hold the cards as one of the next programs to move.

“I would circle Notre Dame first to see how motivated (they) can become. I think they’re intrigued (but) I don’t think there’s anything imminent with them. They are in a different space. I don’t think it’s cost prohibitive for them to get untangled from the ACC if it comes to that,” said Feldman. “Then I think there’s a handful of ACC programs that have some attractiveness. Miami is in a big market. Florida State has had success. North Carolina is an iconic basketball brand. Clemson, obviously. I don’t know if Clemson and Florida State (are) more potentially in line with the SEC than the Big Ten. I think those are interesting questions.”

Having these schools change conferences leave a lot of questions unanswered. While some schools may protest the addition of other programs, especially state rivals, Feldman says they’ll have little say in the matter.

“There’s always been rumbling about Florida (not wanting) FSU or Miami in the SEC. I mean Texas A&M may not have wanted Texas in the SEC but it has happened or is happening,” he said. “There are a lot of those kinds of questions that need to get sorted out.”

While the ACC may control where this narrative goes, the Pac-12 may have the next program to leave. The departure of USC and UCLA has left the cupboard almost completely bare out west. Feldman went on to name Oregon as a wild card for a team that could be on the move next as one of the bigger brands left in the Pac-12.

“To me, Oregon is probably in a lot of ways a kind of wild card. For one because they’ve had a lot of success and they’ve elevated their brand but also because right now they’re in a league that feels like it is on such shaky ground and is so diminished,” Feldman said. “I think it’s not sensible for them to stay if they have other choices.”

The Trojans and Bruins weren’t the first and won’t be the last in these developments. Texas and Oklahoma struck first to the SEC. USC and UCLA were next. It may be sooner than we think that the next school follows in their footsteps. Whether it’s from a school in a position of power or in desperation as well as where they’re headed remains to be seen.