The next wave of realignment will not focus only on the ACC’s four blue‑chip brands. North Carolina, Clemson, Miami, and Florida State drive headlines, but the second tier of candidates will shape the future of the Big 12 and any rebuilt ACC. That tier includes USF, Tulane, Memphis, Rice, UNLV, San Diego State, Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, and UConn. The group offers a mix of markets, academics, football value, and long‑term upside.
USF stands near the top of that list. The Bulls hold AAU membership, R1 research status, and a fast‑growing enrollment. The Tampa–St. Petersburg market continues to expand. The school will open an on‑campus stadium in 2027. USF also carries manageable athletic debt and a stable financial profile. Those factors give the Bulls a stronger long‑term trajectory than several current ACC members.
The ACC’s bottom tier faces challenges. Boston College, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Pitt, and Georgia Tech struggle with declining markets or limited football value. Virginia Tech and Louisville hold stronger brands, but neither school offers the growth curve that USF brings. The ACC’s presidents value academics and research. USF checks those boxes. The league also needs markets that deliver future revenue. Tampa delivers that.
Big 12 Possible
The Big 12 continues to evaluate expansion options. The conference wants major markets, strong enrollment, and schools that can grow with the league. USF fits that model. The Bulls offer a top‑15 media market, a rising football program, and a campus that sits in the center of Florida’s population boom. The Big 12 also values basketball, and USF’s recent surge strengthens the school’s case.
Other candidates bring value but carry limitations. Tulane offers strong academics and the New Orleans market, but the school lacks AAU membership. Memphis brings NIL strength and a major metro area, but the Tigers face facility and academic hurdles. Rice holds AAU status and elite academics, but the athletic profile trails the field. UNLV offers Las Vegas, but the program needs more football momentum. San Diego State brings a strong football brand and a major market, but geography complicates ACC or Big 12 travel. Boise State delivers football value but lacks research depth. UConn offers basketball power and strong academics, but football independence remains a challenge.
It is not how it is when
USF athletics is now led by Rob Higgins, the university’s first CEO of Athletics, and the program is being supported by significant institutional investment in facilities and NIL. With a new on-campus stadium under construction, an established broadcast and production center, and additional football operations upgrades planned, the Bulls are building infrastructure designed to push them closer to Power Four-level competitiveness. The Board of Trustees and administration have backed that vision with major financial commitments, signaling that this is not a short-term push but a long-term strategic priority.
USF’s combination of academics, market strength, and institutional stability places the Bulls in the top tier of expansion candidates for both the Big 12 and a rebuilt ACC. The school’s long‑term upside exceeds that of several current ACC members. Realignment always follows money, markets, and growth. USF checks all three boxes.
