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

All has been quiet on the conference realignment front since USC and UCLA announced their plans to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten 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 Alabama 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,” McElroy said. “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.”

Greg McElroy: The ACC could still find a way to keep up thanks to CFP expansion

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 preparing to expand to 12 teams 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.”