Greg McElroy blasts ACC's interest in adding Cal, Stanford from Pac-12 as 'absurd'

ESPN’s Greg McElroy shut down the ACC discussions of Cal and Stanford right away during a Tuesday morning appearance on Get Up.

The former Alabama quarterback practically said the potential additions of the two west coast schools made no sense for the ACC. The Pac-12, down to just four teams for the 2024 season, is in serious damage control and trying to figure out how to survive.

Meanwhile, the ACC had preliminary discussions about getting its own west coast presence. McElroy doesn’t like the idea at all.

“Yeah, when I think about the Atlantic Coast Greeny and who doesn’t think about Palo Alto and Berkeley,” McElroy said sarcastically. “I mean, the western most member right now is Louisville, which is in the great state of Kentucky. It’s absurd and their entire play is to keep Florida State at bay and to keep Clemson happy.

“Well, hey, guess what Clemson, here’s what we can do to sweeten the deal for you. You get a home and home in Corvallis, Oregon with Oregon State, it’s absurd.”

McElroy conceded he understood the “Pac-Four” and the conference’s attempts to stay alive. At this point, the conference out west might try everything to make sure it stays together, whatever that looks like.

Cal, Stanford to ACC a bad idea?

But this would be a bad move for the ACC, according to McElroy. If the wrong domino falls, the ACC might fall by the wayside. So maybe Cal and Stanford aren’t the best idea.

“Now I understand why the Pac-Four would be trying to exercise every possible option Greeny,” McElroy said. “But my goodness, there is absolutely nothing in this arrangement that would benefit the ACC. The only way that they survive is by keeping Florida State tied to their grant of rights.

“If they can’t keep them tied to their grant of rights and they can find an exit, that means North Carolina can, Clemson can, NC State can, Virginia can and once those dominoes start to fall and the ACC as we know it will be no more.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel explained why the ACC is interested, citing the academic side for both schools. It’s no secret how seriously both Cal and Stanford take their academics quite seriously.

And then while football might not be its strong suit, Stanford has one of the strongest athletic departments in the country. The Cardinal have won 26 out of 29 possible Directors Cups. Only Texas and North Carolina have had the honor of winning the award.

“Nothing gets college presidents more excited than an affiliation with two of the most elite academic institutions in the country,” Thamel said on Monday during an appearance on SportsCenter. “Cal one of the more premier public institutions, Stanford one of the elite private institutions. Stanford, top to bottom, is the best athletic department in the country.”