Report: Shooting on UNC's campus postpones ACC realignment meeting

ACC conference realignment was supposed to take a step forward on Monday night, with the school presidents meeting to discuss voting in three new members. However, a non-football-related subject has reportedly postponed the meeting.

According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, a shooting on North Carolina‘s campus means the ACC will not meet on Monday. Obviously a situation way bigger than anything ACC presidents will discuss, there can be another date to potentially vote Cal, Stanford, and SMU into the conference.

“Tonight’s ACC meeting has been postponed following the on-campus shooting at UNC today, per source,” Auerbach said via Twitter.

At 1:03 p.m. on Monday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sent out an alert, saying there was an “armed and dangerous person on or near campus.” Just over an hour later, North Carolina canceled all classes and told students to remain shelter in place. It was not lifted until 4:26 p.m. when the campus police gave an All-Clear.

Mark Boyle of WRAL of Raleigh later posted a video of police arresting a man thought to be connected with the shooting. A briefing on the matter is expected to be held at 5:45 p.m. ET as the UNC campus police and Chancellor, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, are expected to speak.

ACC conference realignment meeting paused

The latest talk of conference realignment in college football has revolved around the ACC. While the Big Ten and SEC seem to be set heading into the 20234 season, three move teams could be on the move in the near future.

Cal and Stanford would be added from the soon-to-be non-existent Pac-12. If the ACC were to bring the two California-based schools into the equation, just Oregon State and Washington State would remain in the conference. The ACC is attracted to both for multiple different reasons but the academic side is a huge bonus. Of course, finances play a role as well.

As for SMU, the Mustangs have been attempting to join a power conference for a few years. Previously, the Pac-12 was in discussions with the school before folding. The Big 12 made the most geographical sense but all of that has been thrown out of the window.

If SMU is going to make the jump, joining the ACC in the near future is the school’s best option. More information will be known once the conference rescheduled the meeting, originally planned to occur on Monday night.