The Duke Blue Devils, Stanford Cardinal, Cal Golden Bears, Pitt Panthers, Syracuse Orange, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, NC State Wolfpack, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons will remain in the ACC after the UNC Tar Heels, Louisville Cardinals, Clemson Tigers, and FSU Seminoles eventually up and leave.
According to sports media consultant Jim Williams, the Memphis Tigers, Tulane Green Wave, South Florida Bulls, and UTEP Miners could join the ACC soon after.
Williams sees Louisville being a fit for the Big 12.
"...Pitt likes being with their old Big East buddies BC and Syracuse. They also enjoy being academically with the likes of Duke, Stanford, Virginia come Virginia Tech and Ga. Tech. So Louisville makes the most sense for (the Big 12)," Williams wrote.
The SEC is North Carolina's preferred landing spot.
"Inside Carolina sources reportedly named the SEC as the conference “the Tar Heels are aiming” to land, should it ultimately exit the ACC. The ACC’s exit fees drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year, which “would figure to become an important final line of demarcation, if the Tar Heels haven’t made their departure (from the ACC) sooner,” per Inside Carolina," Inside Carolina's Adam Smith wrote.
It's all about markets in the NIL era. Making a play for the states of North Carolina and Virginia is a natural move for either the SEC or Big Ten.
The Tar Heels have natural rivalries with the South Carolina Gamecocks and Tennessee Volunteers waiting for them in the SEC. In hoops, an increasingly competitive "It Just Means More" conference could use a historic blue blood like UNC.
There's a win-win waiting for everyone in a potential North Carolina-SEC union.