It appears the ACC doesn't have much time left, as two of the ACC's top brands in Florida State and Clemson are suing the conference in hopes of leaving.
They are still in the early stages of this process, and the conference will do everything it can to keep them there, but it seems to be a matter of “when” rather than “if.” If these teams were to leave the ACC, it would lead to a mass exodus from the conference and, ultimately, its demise. Its demise means the Big 12 can inherit some new programs and remain a power conference for as long as possible.
247Sports' Brad Crawford recently predicted where nine of the ACC's members would end up if the conferences fall apart, suggesting the Big 12 would gain one of the biggest brands in college football. I expected it to be.
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Crawford plans to add more Florida real estate to the Big 12, including the Miami Hurricanes. Crawford said the Big Ten is considered Miami's first choice, but the conference could choose to add Florida State, which is a bigger brand and is the only one in Florida they want. It has become clear that there is a possibility that it will become a program.
It also recently emerged that North Carolina State is the No. 1 target for both the Big Ten and SEC, with Miami State once again dropping to the bottom of the list. This would give the Big 12 a major brand, but as of now, the Big 12 doesn't really have a traditional household brand in the conference. Rather, it is a group of programs that have the potential to assert themselves, but are not widely seen as one of the preeminent forces.
In addition to adding Miami, Crawford also expects to add North Carolina State to the Big 12, which would allow the Big 12 to enter a new thriving market with highly competitive basketball and A football program will also be added.
The Big 12 could once again reap the benefits of a failed conference, as it did when the Pac-12 collapsed. It's just a delicate waiting game and being there at the right time for these programs. Last year, the conference expanded to 16, previously adding BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, and the Pac-12 added Utah, Arizona State, Arizona and Colorado.
The race to the super conference continues and no one can stop it.
