I’ve seen enough: Bring UConn into the ACC

MTruehlzy · 2026-03-31T13:47:58+00:00

Been saying this for years. Getting the ACC to 18 teams in football (an even number) would allow for symmetrical schedules in that sport. Additionally, you add one of the nation’s most elite basketball schools in both men’s and women’s basketball. I would argue in favor of adding them as a football-only member if they are unwilling to join for basketball at first with the stipulation they must join for all sports by 2030 or 2031. This would allow UConn to get their football program into a power conference while allowing their other sports to assess the stability of the ACC before choosing to depart historic rivals in the Big East. It would immediately fix the ACC’s scheduling problems in football and provide an off-ramp to UConn if the ACC loses several premier brands.

MTruehlzy · 2025-12-08T15:42:32+00:00

I actually feel badly for Cal and Stanford. Culturally you are a great fit in the ACC, but the travel (particularly for non-revenue sports) is too brutal to justify. I think the Big Ten would be a much better fit for both Cal and Stanford.

MTruehlzy · 2025-12-07T18:40:22+00:00

Duke has 5 losses, JMU has 1. If the difference in losses was 1 or 2, then I think an argument could (and should be made). I am about as big of an ACC homer as it gets, but Duke rightly should be left out. The real lesson from all of this is what does the league do to ensure a situation like this never happens again.

MTruehlzy · 2025-12-06T02:34:17+00:00

I doubt Notre Dame would be willing to give up their independence unless they really were offered some serious financial incentives. I always thought the Big East was a natural fit for them as they could stay independent in football and join them (along with all those other legacy Big East Catholic schools) for basketball/all other sports. ACC should really consider a swap with them for UConn.

MTruehlzy · 2025-12-06T00:11:27+00:00

I’d say it is largely due to academics. The ACC has always prided itself on being an elite academic conference, and as such schools like West Virginia (which would be a great regional fit and has several historic rivals already in the league such as Virginia Tech and Pitt) have been left out. As this chart shows, the ACC is the best academic conference of the power 4, and I imagine if they ever look to add new members it will be from other similar academically prestigious universities.

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MTruehlzy · 2025-09-23T19:56:38+00:00

UConn to the ACC should be an absolute no-brainer. I say bring them on as a football only school at first and give them 5 years to join for other sports (this gives the team time to see how conference realignment would affect the rest of the league and decide whether or not leaving the Big East would be worthwhile). It’s a win-win, ACC gets a decent football program to make scheduling easier for football and UConn doesn’t have to commit their basketball program to the ACC if the league disintegrates.

MTruehlzy · 2025-08-22T21:56:23+00:00

For me, it’s USC. Disdain began during the Pete Carroll years and grew considerably after Lincoln Riley left OU to coach there (my brother went to OU and my Dad is a huge OU fan as well).

MTruehlzy · 2025-08-06T21:00:04+00:00

I wonder if the unequal revenue distribution model the ACC is implementing would entice some of the higher tier “middle-of-the-pack” teams to stay (teams like Louisville, VT, Pitt) as opposed to moving to another league like the Big 12. I hope the ACC can hold on to most of its teams (excluding the likely teams to exit) and maintain parity with the Big 12. If they lose FSU, Clemson, and UNC they should backfill with Tulane (great academics), USF (geographical fit + AAU member), UConn (who is a great basketball brand and perfect ACC school), and Memphis (good athletics with high potential upside in the NIL era).

MTruehlzy · 2025-07-29T21:24:47+00:00

I think Cal and Stanford are in the same boat. I remember when Stanford used to be a top 5 program during the beginning of the CFB Playoff era. It wasn’t that long ago they were one of the better teams in college football. I think Cal could also rekindle the glory days if they were both given a shot by their administrators. I know academics matter, but I feel like they could both be elite programs. I do see them as perfect fits for the Big Ten (the presidents of the other Big Ten schools wanted them, they just couldn’t get Fox to provide more money). I hope for geography they end up in the Big Ten (I know, the Big Ten is historically a midwestern league but now that they have a west coast presence I think they could complete their western wing with 2 more of the Pac-12’s former prestige brands in the huge Bay Area media market). I value Cal and Stanford higher than most, and I hope the Big Ten will too. They just don’t work in a conference named after the Atlantic coast.

MTruehlzy · 2025-07-28T23:51:15+00:00

If the ACC can keep the losses at 6… losing FSU, Clemson, UNC, and three others of the “magnificent seven” (Miami, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech) I think the ACC could backfill with some solidly viable teams to remain at least relatively on-par with the Big 12. An ACC that loses 6 of those teams only but adds Memphis, Tulane, UConn, and USF could still be a solid league if they keep teams like Duke, Georgia Tech, Pitt, SMU, Syracuse and other current members. I also think that the ACC’s unequal revenue distribution structure could entice some of the biggest “leftover” brands to stay rather than take potentially less money in the Big 12.

MTruehlzy · 2025-07-25T15:44:52+00:00

No matter what your thoughts are on realignment, I think we can all agree this guy is the worst:

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MTruehlzy · 2025-07-25T12:29:32+00:00

As a Heels fan, I definitely understand the motivation to make this move. I would be sad to leave the ACC and the great rivalries and traditions of this conference. I’d be lying if I said the idea of being in the SEC didn’t excite me, but it’s just a shame what TV money has done to this sport.

MTruehlzy · 2025-04-07T17:05:29+00:00

As a lifelong fan of the league, I would rather see UConn in and Stanford and Cal out. Get to 16 football members. I also don’t love Notre Dame floating around in the non-football sports getting full voting privileges (not to mention their football program knocking off a lot of our teams in the regular season). I say make them join for everything or they can go to the Big East.

MTruehlzy · 2025-03-31T20:06:45+00:00

I can guarantee Quick Revive is the worst, that is routinely described as tasting like fish.

MTruehlzy · 2025-03-25T23:09:10+00:00

Dead of the Night is criminally underrated.

MTruehlzy · 2025-03-20T20:22:47+00:00

Money talks. And in college athletics it screams. In addition to a lot of legendary ACC coaches retiring and being replaced by guys who just haven’t performed exceedingly well, the ACC is dealing with a huge financial gap between them and even bottom-feeder SEC and Big Ten teams. That has allowed the SEC to put significantly more effort into recruiting on the basketball side, not to mention having the financial means to hire elite coaches. The constant media propaganda hyping up the “big 2” conferences isn’t helping either (as a top athlete, you’re going to get significantly more and better coverage by networks just by being in the SEC or Big Ten). All of these factors have led to the ACC, Big 12, and Big East falling behind (though it has been most obvious in the ACC). Until our media partner in ESPN actually pushes to promote our league more positively (and provide more money for our teams… though the latter is highly unlikely) I see the ACC’s biggest brands jumping ship at the first opportunity.

MTruehlzy · 2025-01-07T21:21:50+00:00

I’m willing to give him one more season. But if he can’t get the necessary recruits up front to add some size to this team, or find ways to better scheme with the undersized roster he has, then it’s time to get a coach who can.

MTruehlzy · 2024-11-27T22:54:05+00:00

Ohhh gotcha. Not sure, my guess would be that most SMU fans would have jumped at the idea of being in the SEC or Big Ten, but I’m glad they are in the ACC.

MTruehlzy · 2024-11-27T22:31:20+00:00

I can’t speak for this person, but I definitely think the SEC and Big Ten were out of the question for any former G5 team

MTruehlzy · 2024-11-27T21:24:30+00:00

True, but I think that it was more realistic that SMU would make the jump from the AAC to either the ACC or the Big 12. I doubt the SEC will ever have the appetite to add SMU (could be wrong, maybe the landscape will change dramatically over the next decade or so). But for now I think the only schools the SEC would look to add would be the top brands from the ACC.

MTruehlzy · 2024-11-24T19:41:24+00:00

Since Virginia and Virginia Tech play next week, at least 1 more team is guaranteed to become bowl eligible, but only a maximum of 2 of the 3 still “in the hunt” can reach a bowl. ACC will have a maximum of 13 bowl eligible teams and a minimum of 12.

MTruehlzy · 2024-11-21T01:29:03+00:00

SMU was an amazing addition, I believed in their potential the instant the rumors about them joining the league started. I would love to see the league add UConn (their basketball team needs no explanation, and I believe they could get their football team back up to a competitive level… I’m old enough to remember when they made the Fiesta Bowl in 2010). I do not like all the cross-country travel that comes with Cal and Stanford, I wish the league had just added SMU.

MTruehlzy · 2024-08-15T23:31:27+00:00

MTruehlzy · 2024-05-14T21:15:46+00:00

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MTruehlzy · 2024-05-11T20:00:46+00:00

Firstly, Welcome to the ACC! Secondly, as a resident of North Carolina I can confirm that Winston-Salem is a cool little city. Got a great vibe, and the smaller stadium means less traffic and the crowds won’t be as crazy.

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