Report: Pac-12 programs interested in being ‘aligned’ with the ACC

Amongst the Pac-12 options going forward could be to form a “bicoastal super league” with the ACC, according to a report.

That’s per the Mercury News’ Jon Wilner, noted in a story on Tuesday that a merger between the Pac-12 and the ACC could make sense on multiple levels.

“I can tell you the presidents of each league would love to be academically aligned with the other,’’ a source told Wilner, speaking of the Pac-12 and ACC. 

Academically speaking, a Pac-12 merger with the ACC would make more sense than it would with the Big 12. It could also be a way for ACC programs to expand its media rights agreement before 2036.

Geographically, the ACC a

nd Pac-12 don’t have much in common. It would be logistically difficult for teams to travel from one coast to the other multiple times during a season — especially in sports other than football.

However, if the ACC and Pac-12 did form a new league, perhaps there could be a way to limit strenuous travel during the regular season. Non-football programs could play most — if not all — of a regular season schedule vs. teams in their geographic region.

As far as football goes, a conference that includes brands like Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Oregon and Washington would rival what the SEC and Big Ten have created.

The remaining Pac-12 programs could start to make longterm decisions in the near future. Their grant of rights agreement expires in 2024, clearing the way for its members to secure their place in other conferences if necessary.