In the next era of college athletics, the Atlantic Coast Conference faces a defining crossroads. Imagine a 2030 landscape where Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, and perhaps even Louisville exit for richer pastures. Even in that scenario, the ACC is far too valuable — institutionally, academically, and geographically — to simply collapse.

I humbly offer ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and the conference’s member schools a blueprint not only to keep the league intact, but to position it to expand and thrive. The institutions that make up this conference are too significant, too powerful, and too valuable to ignore — and with that in mind, here is the plan.

The remaining core of academically elite, mission‑aligned universities would have the opportunity to rebuild the league into a modern, stable, academically driven national conference. Rather than chasing the SEC and Big Ten’s financial arms race, ACC 2.0 could re‑center itself around research excellence, institutional compatibility, and a coast‑to‑coast footprint that appeals to both ESPN and emerging streaming partners.

Why the Remaining ACC Schools Won’t Bolt for the Big 12

The Big 12 is aggressive, opportunistic, and well‑run — but it is not a natural academic or institutional fit for the ACC’s remaining members. Here’s why each school is better off staying:

Duke

• Elite AAU academics
• Basketball brand unmatched in the Big 12
• Strong ESPN relationship
• Big 12 offers no academic peers

Virginia

• AAU powerhouse
• Massive research footprint
• Fits culturally with Stanford, Cal, Georgia Tech
• Big 12 would be a step down academically

Virginia Tech

• Strong football brand
• Geographic anchor for the Mid‑Atlantic
• Big 12 travel would be brutal
• ACC stability + new markets = better long‑term value

NC State

• Research Triangle identity
• Local rivalries with Duke/UNC/VT
• Big 12 offers no comparable academic ecosystem

Georgia Tech

• AAU member
• Atlanta market
• Tech‑centric brand fits ACC’s academic identity
• Big 12 lacks peer institutions

Pittsburgh

• AAU member
• Natural rivalries with Syracuse, BC, Notre Dame
• Big 12 travel and time zones are a poor fit

Syracuse

• Northeast media footprint
• Basketball heritage
• Big 12 is geographically and culturally misaligned

Boston College

• Only Power conference school in New England
• Massive media market leverage
• Big 12 has no presence or value in the Northeast

Wake Forest

• Elite private‑school academics
• Big 12’s public‑school culture doesn’t match
• ACC offers stability and peer alignment

Cal & Stanford

• AAU giants
• West Coast academic prestige
• Big 12 is not an academic match
• ACC gives them a national platform without compromising identity

SMU

• Wealthiest donor base in the country
• Texas recruiting access
• ACC brand elevates SMU more than Big 12 ever could

Bottom line: The Big 12 is a good football league. The ACC is a university league — and that matters to these schools.

The New Additions: Why They Strengthen ACC 2.0

ACC 2.0 strategically adds USF, UConn, Tulane, Memphis, Rice, Army (football only), and Navy (football only) — each selected for academic alignment, media value, and institutional fit.

USF

• AAU status
• R1 research
• New on‑campus stadium
• #11 Tampa–St. Pete–Sarasota DMA
• Massive NIL potential
• Aggressive investment in sports

UConn

• NYC–New England corridor
• Elite basketball brand
• Strong academics
• Restores Northeast relevance
• Football is on the upswing

Tulane

• AAU‑level academics
• New Orleans market
• Rising football credibility

Memphis

• Central U.S. footprint
• Passionate fanbase
• Strong recruiting region

Rice

• AAU member
• Houston market
• Elite academic prestige

Army & Navy

• National visibility
• Tradition and patriotic appeal
• Annual Army–Navy game becomes an ACC property

Together, these additions create a coast‑to‑coast academic‑athletic alliance unmatched outside the Big Ten.

Notre Dame: The Biggest Winner in ACC 2.0

Notre Dame remains a full ACC member in all sports except football, where it maintains independence. But in ACC 2.0, the Irish gain:

• A national schedule without Big Ten entanglements
• Historic rivalries (Army, Navy, Stanford, Pitt, Georgia Tech)
• A new multi‑year football series with USF
• A league that mirrors Notre Dame’s academic identity

If anything, ACC 2.0 becomes the perfect home for Notre Dame’s Olympic sports — and the perfect partner for its football independence.

Why ESPN Stays Invested Beyond 2036

ACC 2.0 controls major markets including Boston, New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Raleigh–Durham, San Francisco/Oakland, and Houston.

For ESPN, this means:

• Year‑round content
• High‑value basketball inventory
• East Coast + West Coast windows
• Service academy games
• Notre Dame Olympic sports

Even after 2036, ESPN will want:

• Inventory
• Stability
• National reach
• Academic prestige

ACC 2.0 checks every box.

Why Apple, Amazon, YouTube, and DAZN Will Bid

The next media cycle will be dominated by streamers. ACC 2.0 offers:

• National markets
• Elite academic brands
• Basketball dominance
• Service academy tradition
• Notre Dame adjacency
• West Coast + East Coast time zones
• Competitive Football programs already in the conference with up-and-coming new teams joining.

DAZN, in particular, is looking to plant a U.S. flag through its pursuit of Main Street Sports. ACC 2.0 gives them:

• A national conference
• A stable inventory
• A premium academic brand

This is exactly the kind of league a streamer wants to anchor a long‑term sports strategy.

How the ACC Learned From the Pac‑12 Collapse

The Pac‑12 died because it:

• Waited too long to understand their problems
• Had no unified vision
• Lost Los Angeles
• Ignored streaming partners
• Failed to expand

ACC 2.0 does the opposite:

• Expands early
• Adds major markets
• Builds academic alignment
• Creates national inventory
• Embraces streaming

This is a conference built to survive. Thanks in advance to the ACC for looking at my suggestions and best of luck in the future.

African football’s rise continues to captivate the world, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is proving to be more than just a tournament.

AFCON 2025 is becoming a mid-season cultural stop for the global football elite during their brief mid-season pause.

Just a week after biggest football fiesta in Africa kicked off on December 21, Morocco has transformed into a magnet for world stars, blending high-octane football with VIP glamour.

The stadiums are alive not only with passionate fans, but also with familiar faces from Europe’s biggest clubs, all drawn to the rhythm and uniqueness of African football.

Among the most notable attendees is French football icon and former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

Spotted once again in the VIP tribune in Rabat, Zidane was in parent mode as he supported his son Luca, who has been guarding the net for Algeria.

Accompanied by his wife Veronique, Zidane watched on as Luca delivered another important performance, recording his second consecutive clean sheet for the Desert Foxes.

Real Madrid’s current superstar, Kylian Mbappe, has also become a regular presence in the stands.

The French forward was seen enjoying Morocco’s matches, as well as the thrilling 1–1 draw between Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon on Sunday.

For Mbappe, the tournament holds personal meaning because of his Algerian and Cameroonian roots which make AFCON a celebration of heritage.

Adding to the star power, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was also in attendance, joined by Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The two were spotted watching the Cameroon vs Cote d’Ivoire clash.

Morocco coach, Walid Regragui has confirmed that newly-crowned African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi will play his first game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday. 

Morocco have been strengthened with Hakimi’s return ahead of their face-off against Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Monday. 

The Paris Saint-Germain left-back has been out of action since the UEFA Champions League game against Bayrrn Munich in November.

Hakimi has now returned to full fitness and Regragui has declared that the defender is now set to make his mark in the tournament after featuring as unused substitute in the first two games. 

“What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui told the media. 

“Whether he starts or not it will be his first match at the AFCON.

“What we want — because we want to go as far as possible — is that Achraf progresses with the team and that we can keep him for the whole competition.

Morocco are through to the next round of the competition but would need a win against Zambia to guarantee their spot as Group A leaders. 

They started their campaign with a 2-0 win against Comoros but a 1-1 draw against Mali halted their impressive 19-game winning run at home. 

The result against the Eagles of Mali resulted in jeers from Moroccan supporters who were far from being impressed with their country’s performance. 

Monday’s game would be the fourth game between Morocco and Zambia on the AFCON stage with the last three results ending in two wins for the Atlas Lions and a draw.

The most recent game was in the Ivory Coast in 2023 with Hakim Ziyech scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for Morocco.