All has been quiet on the conference realignment front since <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/usc-trojans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USC</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ucla-bruins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a> announced their plans to <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/big-ten-officially-announces-additions-usc-ucla-pac-12-conference-realignment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten</a> in June. But that hasn’t stopped questions about the future of the ACC amid its struggles this past football season — even despite a grant of rights that makes it tough for teams to leave.



Former <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alabama</a> quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy addressed where the ACC fits into the realignment equation, and his answer was simple. He doesn’t expect any teams to leave the league anytime soon, even as the Big Ten and SEC prepare to expand to 16 teams by 2024.



However, that doesn’t mean it’s out of the question in the long run.



“Let’s start with where they’re at right now,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwlQ3nCvRws" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McElroy said</a>. “Their grant of rights currently runs through 2036. You read some of the numbers about Oklahoma and Texas and USC and UCLA leaving early and what they have to pay if they were to leave early. It’s some astronomical figure. That’s for one year early. I can’t imagine what it’d be like for 10. So I do not at this point envision anyone in the ACC leaving for greener pastures. 



“I do think it’s, at some point, possible down the road that could become a real possibility. But still, man, at this point, it’s difficult for me to project that being a move that is going to be highly prioritized for a lot of these teams.”



<h2 id="h-greg-mcelroy-the-acc-could-still-find-a-way-to-keep-up-thanks-to-cfp-expansion">Greg McElroy: The ACC could still find a way to keep up thanks to CFP expansion</h2>



The ACC, currently at 14 teams, didn’t see any of its teams make the CFP this year while the Big Ten had two and the SEC had one. However, the CFP is <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/college-football-playoff-officially-announces-expansion-12-teams-2024-cfp-rose-bowl-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing to expand to 12 teams</a> after next season, and that could bode well for the ACC’s future. Under the new model, all Power 5 conference champions will make the field.



That’s why McElroy said it’s not a sure thing the ACC will fall behind the rest of the pack.



“As far as keeping up is concerned, I happen to think, personally, while it might be difficult as far as the finances are concerned, you don’t have to have the deepest pockets to put forth a competitive product,” McElroy said. “If you’re competing right now against teams that maybe, top to bottom, let’s say 1-14 in the ACC, how is it in strength and relative to 1-14 in the other leagues, maybe it wouldn’t be quite as competitive at the bottom as it is at other places. But either way, we’ve seen several times where the ACC has been really bad top to bottom, Clemson runs through it 12-0, wins the ACC Championship in convincing fashion, has two weeks, three weeks to get right and improve for what should be a strengthened competition there in the College Football Playoff and they play their best football in the final two weeks. 



“They get an expanded field and the ACC champion is guaranteed to get in. I think they’re going to be just fine. It’s just one of those situations where are they going to be as good top to bottom as some of the other leagues? Probably not.”

ACC Football Logo

On3 Football

ESPN analyst offers thoughts on potential ACC programs leaving for Big Ten, SEC

team image

The Main Board

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Teams

Fan Sites

Forums

Shows

team-link

College Football News

College Football Player Rankings

College Football Rankings

College Football Playoff

College Basketball News

Women's Sports

College

NIL News

NIL Valuation

NIL Deals

NIL Deal Tracker

Sports Business

Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal

Transfer Portal Rankings

Transfer Portal Team Rankings

Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal Home

Football Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting

Database

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Commitments

Recruiting Prediction Machine

Recruiting

High School News

Schools

High School Search

Rankings

High School Rankings

Scores

High School Scores

High School

NFL Draft

NFL Draft News

Draft By Stars

College Draft History

College Draft Totals

NBA Draft

NBA Draft News

Draft

NASCAR

Culture

Sports Betting

About

On3 App

Advertise

Press

Contact

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

ESPN analyst offers thoughts on potential ACC programs leaving for Big Ten, SEC

Jordan Seaton

Bediako ruling

College Football Playoff

Arch Manning health

Darian Mensah