CFB insider predicts ACC teams to join Big East expansion after 10 schools likely to find spots in Big Ten, SEC & Big 12 expansion

The Big East has created a niche as one of the nation's premier basketball conferences, notably home to the back-to-back national champion, the UConn Huskies. While the constant conference realignment and expansion that has affected many college sports leagues has not touched the Big East, the ongoing turmoil within the ACC might soon change that.

The ACC is currently in a fight for survival, with the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles taking legal action to break free from the ironclad grant of rights media deal that has kept programs from leaving.

College football insider Greg Swaim released a report detailing the status of various programs amid the realignment and expansion games, pinpointing that several programs are primed to join the Big 12 and the SEC:

"The B12 is likely to poach between four and six ACC schools, as with their two elite programs leaving, the media money will barely be barely enough to survive. #CardNation, #NCState, #VT, #TheU, #GT and #Pitt are the six schools we continue to hear after #Clemson, but #Wazzu and the #Beavers will likely join by 2026-27, and the B12 will not go past 24, so not everyone will get a seat."

The report further highlighted that some ACC programs could make a move to the Big East, including the Gonzaga Bulldogs:

"Several of the remaining ACC teams will join the #BigEast, making it an even more elite basketball conference, and we believe #Gonzaga will join the #BigEast as well if Yormark doesn't add them first...and we don't believe he will."

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The Big East primed for expansion

In an interview with CT Insider in January, Big East commissioner Val Ackerman revealed the conference's plans for conference realignment and expansion:

"Nothing on the horizon at this point. A number of schools have approached us about being part of the Big East. Our presidents, at this point, have not wanted to add schools. So, we stay at 11. It's really as simple as that."

Ackerman further highlighted the qualities the conference would consider for any potential new members:

"It would take the right school to add and you want it to be for all the right reasons, including what they add from a basketball standpoint, is their school mission in line with our other schools? How does the financial piece of it work out? So, for now, the decision our board has made has been to stay at 11."

As reported on June 28, the conference signed a six-year deal with Fox Sports, running through to the 2031 season, putting it on par with other conferences. In addition, the conference has deals with NBC Sports and TNT Sports, making it a lucrative destination during conference realignment and expansion efforts.