ACC formally announces Cal, SMU, Stanford to join league in 2024

The ACC has officially added Cal, Stanford and SMU. The league announced the additions Friday morning, just a couple of hours after news leaked that the ACC had voted to bring in the three schools.

All three schools will join the ACC in 2024, with SMU coming on board July 1, 2024 and Stanford and Cal joining Aug. 2, 2024.

They will be full members with full voting participation.

“We are thrilled to welcome three world-class institutions to the ACC, and we look forward to having them compete as part of our amazing league,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “Throughout the evaluation process, the ACC Board of Directors, led by President [James] Ryan, was deliberate in prioritizing the best possible athletic and academic experience for our student-athletes and in ensuring that the three universities would strengthen the league in all possible ways. Cal, SMU and Stanford will be terrific members of the ACC and we are proud to welcome their student-athletes, coaches, staff and entire campus community, alumni and fans.”

The ACC needed 12 “yes” votes in order to expand. On Friday morning, it got them.

Clemson, Florida State, NC State and North Carolina had been against expanding. However, NC State flipped and voted “yes” on Friday, which led to the three schools being added.

The news is big for Cal, Stanford and SMU. Cal and Stanford were anxious to get out of the Pac-12 as the conference has fallen apart. SMU has long looked to join a Power 5 conference.

“We are very pleased with the outcome, which will support the best interests of our student-athletes and aligns with Berkeley’s values,” University of California-Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ said in a statement. “We are confident that the ACC and its constituent institutions are an excellent match for our university and will provide an elite competitive context for our student-athletes in this changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics.”

Added Stanford President Richard P. Saller: “Stanford welcomes the invitation extended by the ACC member universities, and we are excited to join them beginning in 2024. Student-athletes come to Stanford to pursue their highest academic and athletic potential, and joining the ACC gives us the ability to continue offering them that opportunity at a national level.”

SMU President R. Gerald Turner also released a statement: “This is a transformational day for SMU. Becoming a member of the ACC will positively impact all aspects of the collegiate experience on the Hilltop and will raise SMU’s profile on a national level.”