Nine years ago to the day, we looked at the possibility of whether the ACC should consider adding UCONN.
I agree UCONN makes some sense, but the southern football schools won’t accept another northern school primarily known for basketball without a football power joining. That means unless Notre Dame walks through that door as a full member, I don’t see UCONN as member for now.
Has the time arrived to seriously think about UCONN? ACC Brett Friedlander was the first to propose this earlier in the week.
If the #ACC is truly interested in regaining its lost stature as a basketball conference, it should invite newly-crowned national champion #UConn to join as its 16th member. Immediately … https://t.co/8HkpyPaBsy
— BFriedACC (@BFriedACC) April 4, 2023
How conferences and why conferences should consider expansion candidates has changed.
Football still drives the bus with media revenue and UCONN has a marginal FBS program at best, so what’s the point?
Expansion isn’t always about revenue increases it’s about existing. The Big 12 has been shredded to pieces over and over again since 2010, but through a shrewd PR campaign and sheer numbers, they will probably exist in the future. Sure when the SEC and Big 10 feel like pulling another school from there they will.
They will hopelessly be tens of millions behind them, and that has zero chance of changing.
Let’s say the ACC is poached one day. It won’t happen in the next five years, but one day, if it happens not all 14 teams, are finding homes in the Big 10 or SEC. Realistically 4-6 teams may end up there, which means 8-10 schools won’t have suitable destinations. I don’t count the Big 12 either, as it’s only a pass-through with no regional or historical identity, but it’s alive in name.
When Rutgers, Maryland, and Missouri were expansion candidates before bigger brands nobody can assume they will be assured of a landing spot.
How the ACC can continue to exist is to increase its current size. If the Big East can thrive, a future ACC even if depleted can as well – to a certain extent. You’d get a hybrid lower-class existence ala the Big 12. I’d look at other easy pickings possibilities such as Memphis, Tulane, SMU, or South Florida as a second candidate. South Florida ensures a presence in the state of Florida regardless of what happens to Florida State or Miami in the future. Expansion always gives the impression of strength as well. In today’s world perception is everything.
In addition – women’s basketball is about to become a reasonable revenue producer. It’s almost a near certainty women’s basketball will be negotiating their own media rights deal for their NCAA Championships. I could see monetary-based units based on tournament performance like the men’s tournament. It’s not game-changing money, but it won’t be insignificant either.
UCONN’s men’s and women’s basketball programs speak for themselves.
Right now the ACC’s 24/7 priority is trying to increase revenue as it should be, but survival should there somewhere.
Survival is possible but only with added numbers.
