College sports traditionalists are in for an awakening when the 2024-25 athletics calendar year gets underway this fall. The latest round of college conference realignment resulted in the collapse of the Pac-12 and the expansion of the four remaining Power 5 Conferences. The SEC and Big Ten were the big winners in the latest round of NCAA realignment, with the SEC adding a pair of powerhouses in Texas and Oklahoma, and the Big Ten adding the four most notable universities from the Pac-12: Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA. Those moves made the gap between the ACC and Big 12 and the Big Ten and SEC even wider than it already was.
One school that has become the topic of conference realignment discussions is North Carolina. The Tar Heels boast one of the top athletic departments in the country, led by an elite college basketball program and an upper-echelon Power 5 football program. With the potential for a substantial increase in revenue a real possibility, it should come as no surprise that UNC officials are contemplating the school's best possible affiliation for long-term success. If you love the Tar Heels, or just want the latest updates and news on conference realignment discussions, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at Inside Carolina, the 247Sports affiliate that covers the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: "There is no offseason at Inside Carolina."
Inside Carolina has been "The Independent Voice of UNC Sports" since 1994, and is a network partner with 247Sports and CBS Sports. The Inside Carolina staff is composed of experienced, professional reporters and analysts whose job is to provide readers with objective coverage. The publication is independently owned and operated, and is not affiliated with the University. It is fully credentialed by UNC, the ACC and the NCAA.
The team at Inside Carolina has full coverage of conference realignment talks and what UNC could prioritize amid the ever-changing college sports landscape. Head to Inside Carolina now to see all the insider info.
North Carolina conference realignment news, updates
North Carolina is one of the founding members of the ACC, but as UNC insiders note, conference loyalties may not matter when it comes to the next round of conference realignment. The Tar Heels, along with Florida State and Clemson, voted against the ACC adding Stanford, Cal, and SMU, but were outvoted 12-3. Those three schools are now set to join the conference in 2024.
Under the new College Football Playoff revenue distribution agreement, the Big Ten and SEC members are now set to receive a substantially larger distribution than the ACC and Big 12. This fact has not been lost on UNC officials. "I think our obligation to the ACC is to be the best partner with our conference that we can possibly be. I also think that we have to look at what is in the best interest of the university today and going forward," UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham told the team at Inside Carolina. Join Inside Carolina now to see the latest news on the future conference alignment of North Carolina's athletics.
How to get insider North Carolina sports news updates
The team at Inside Carolina has also mentioned another university that may give the ACC the boost it needs to compete with the Big Ten and SEC going forward. This school has a national following and high-end programs in the revenue-producing sports. Be sure to join Inside Carolina to get the latest ACC expansion news and updates on the current and future conference affiliation of North Carolina athletics.
Where do insiders believe UNC could lean amid conference realignment and turmoil? Go to Inside Carolina to see their insider information, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Tar Heels, and find out. And reminder, Inside Carolina is offering 30% off the first year of an annual VIP membership*, so subscribe now before it's too late.
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