ACC votes to add three teams, creating fourth power conference

The Atlantic Coast Conference voted to add Stanford, California and Southern Methodist University to the league next year. 

The decision to pluck three teams from the shrinking Pac-12 means there will be a fourth major conference in the college sports arena. It’s part of a trend toward conferences growing membership and expanding westward.  

As of August 2024, the ACC will increase its number of football schools to 17, and 18 in most other sports.

Meanwhile, the Pac-12 is now left with just two members, Oregon State and Washington State.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State, Clemson, and Florida State voiced opposition to expansion when the conference presidents chose not to vote three weeks ago on adding the three schools. Before Friday’s vote, two North Carolina trustees had released a statement saying they were opposed to the ACC's expansion plan.