Source: 4 ACC schools opposed to Cal, Stanford
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
Four ACC schools are opposed to adding Cal and Stanford, a source confirmed to ESPN, but expansion discussions are not completely over as of Friday night.
Though there is no call currently scheduled for the presidents to talk about expansion again, the discussions continue in the hopes that perhaps they can get to 12 “yes” votes, the required number to add teams. Florida State, North Carolina, Clemson and NC State are opposed, a source said, confirming news first reported by Sports Illustrated.
One source described the expansion discussion as being “on life support,” two days after ESPN reported the talks among the presidents hit “significant roadblocks” following a call among presidents Wednesday night.
Multiple sources indicated there is no deadline to make any decision for the ACC, and a presidents call could be scheduled at any time. A vote will be taken only if there are enough yes votes. One source believed a decision should have been made during the Wednesday call: “I would imagine that there’s not much more for them to discuss. I would think that the next item on the agenda is to make a decision.”
It should be noted the four schools that are opposed are among a group of seven schools that have had separate discussions looking at the ACC grant of rights and a path forward. The ACC grant of rights ties the league together through the end of its television contract with ESPN in 2036 and gives the conference control over member schools’ media revenue and broadcast rights.
For Cal and Stanford, the clock is ticking as they evaluate future options.
There is appeal among a majority of the presidents to add Cal and Stanford from an academic and Olympic sports perspective. There is not nearly as much appeal among athletic directors, however, for a host of reasons, including football, finances and West Coast travel.
The ACC is facing a $30 million annual revenue gap with the SEC and Big Ten, and the priority for athletic directors is to try to significantly enhance revenue in the league. The ACC has looked at expansion options over the past two years but has not added any schools because they do not enhance the conference’s financial situation.
That is also the case with Cal and Stanford; neither school would add to the financial bottom line, sources indicated.
But there is another component at play that might be more appealing than finances. With Florida State president Richard McCullough telling his board of trustees last week the university would have to “very seriously” consider leaving the ACC unless there is a radical change to the conference’s revenue distribution model, adding schools could help solidify the conference into the future.
Any team that wants to leave the ACC for next season must notify the league by Tuesday. Perhaps that is why talks are not completely over, as there continues to be a waiting game to see what Florida State does. Though multiple sources indicated it appears unlikely the Seminoles will do anything by Tuesday, there is a bit of a guessing game involved in what could happen.
With the prospect of adding no schools on the table, and understanding Florida State is serious about leaving, perhaps the Seminoles open more doors to getting what they want — a change in the way television revenue is distributed. Or perhaps their vocalness will not change anything.
More clarity is expected once the deadline passes.
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Greg Wyshynski
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday night for cross-checking Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield.
He’ll miss the Oilers’ regular-season finale at San Jose on Wednesday night but will be eligible to return to Edmonton’s lineup for Game 1 of its first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Kings.
Nurse had been suspended three times and fined once in his 716-game NHL career.
The incident occurred at 14:36 of the second period of the Kings’ 5-0 win in Edmonton on Monday, with Los Angeles on a 5-on-3 power play and leading by four goals. Nurse and Byfield battled near the crease as the puck was frozen by Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard. Nurse brought Byfield down with a headlock and then shoved Byfield’s head to the ice with a cross-check to the back of his helmet.
Byfield left the game and didn’t return. He also missed the Kings’ game against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. Nurse received a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct.
In its ruling, NHL Player Safety said Nurse was in control of his stick and “makes the decision to deliver an intentional cross-check that makes head contact with a player lying on the ice.”
The NHL ruled that the cross-check was delivered with enough force to earn supplemental discipline but agreed with Nurse’s counterargument that the cross-check was not delivered with “exceptional force” on Byfield.
“It is only because of that fact that this incident is not met with much more harsh discipline,” the ruling said.
The ruling is similar to one made in 2023 against Andrew Mangiapane, then of the Calgary Flames, who cross-checked Seattle’s Jared McCann while the Kraken forward was flat on the ice. Mangiapane also received a one-game suspension after a match penalty in the game, with NHL Player Safety citing the force of the cross-check in its ruling.
The Oilers and Kings will meet in the first round for the fourth straight postseason. Edmonton won the three previous series, in seven games in 2022, six in 2023 and five games in the 2024 playoffs.
Edmonton will not have defenseman Mattias Ekholm for the upcoming series against Los Angeles, underscoring how critical it was for the Oilers that Nurse not miss any postseason time.
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