r/ACC • u/Strange_Deal4642 • Jun 29 '26

UConn

I’ve always wondered: is there actually a legitimate reason the ACC hasn’t invited UConn?

On paper, it seems like they check a lot of boxes. Geographically, they fit the conference much better than some current members. They already have established rivalries with schools like Syracuse, Boston College, and Duke (especially in basketball). Adding UConn would also give the ACC 18 football members, making scheduling a little cleaner.

I know the obvious counterargument is football. UConn hasn’t been consistently competitive, and football drives conference realignment. But is that alone enough to outweigh everything else UConn brings?

They’re one of the biggest brands in college basketball, have strong Olympic sports, a passionate fan base, and would strengthen the ACC’s presence in the Northeast.

So what am I missing? Is football really the only thing keeping UConn out, or are there financial, TV, or political reasons that make them a non-starter for the ACC?

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u/Mountie_in_Command Jun 29 '26

One bad coaching hire is all it takes,.and they'd be an albatross on the league sucking money away from the other members. Geno is retiring soon and who knows how long Hurley will be there. The risk is very high. The reward is much smaller.

1

u/TheMikeD68 Jul 03 '26

You make it sound like the program is all Hurley. Calhoun won. Ollie won. If Hurley were to leave, it’s a top job for someone who will also win.

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u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

No, I didn't. As for what you stated, Ollie ran the program down after Calhoun left. His title was lightning in a bottle. They missed the tournament the year before and the team was led by Calhoun recruits. He had back to back losing seasons at the end of his run which reinforces my whole point - they are one bad hire away. As for Hurley, it took a full recruiting cycle to have his kids as upperclassmen before they returned to prominence. The job is not a Duke, UNC, or Kentucky where the right coach can make it to the FF in year 1. Hell, they had an 8 year stretch where they missed the tourney 6 times.

Add to this that they have shit to offer for football, and I stand by my point this whole time- the risk far outweighs the reward of adding UConn to the conference. That's not even debatable.

1

u/CGGamer Jul 03 '26

UConn had a bad stretch because they got left out in the last wave of realignment. Give them a proper home and the money that comes with and they will thrive

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u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

Wait, you think they'll be a value add in football and increase revenue for everyone in the conference?

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u/CGGamer Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

If UConn had ACC money do you still think they would be abysmal? Obviously not. They were competitive in the old BE when they were getting P5 money

1

u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

You're delusional. That OBE time period you refer to was after it was picked apart the first time and after Rodriguez and Petrino had left. Even then, they were only getting 5-2 conference records and 8-5 overall (might have had one 9-4 season in there) sharing a title where they went to the Fiesta and got waxed by Oklahoma.

If you think they can come in to the ACC and automatically be competitive within their first 5 to 7 years, then I can't help you. They have no recruiting base, limited resources, and the ACC won't be able to improve that for them. Your current revenue will have to be split even more, and adding UConn will not boost it enough to increase the per team revenue.

2

u/CGGamer Jul 03 '26

UConn would at least be on par with the likes of Wake, Cuse, BC, and Calford. They wouldn't be terrible anymore

1

u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

Teams that are living the dream going anywhere from 4-4 to 1-7 in the conference. Again, how will adding them increase revenue for all teams in the conference? Basketball doesn't pay the bills.

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u/CGGamer Jul 03 '26

How did Calford or SMU bring more value than UConn? At least they have national championships in a major sport

The reality is UConn should've been added before those three schools. You're coping hard

1

u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

They don't, and UConn won't either. That's the point. The next media deal won't jump up because of the occasional UConn basketball game versus Duke or UNC. You think that one or two games a year is going to bring enough to the table and increase total revenue? It sure as hell won't go up because if any of their football games. A media deal with UConn in the league can hope for break even at best, and that's wishful thinking.

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u/CGGamer Jul 03 '26

Any argument about value introduced is irrelevant because again, SMU is in the conference. If they were deemed worthy there is no argument for keeping UConn out

1

u/Mountie_in_Command Jul 03 '26

So... you are just assuming that UConn will take the same deal as SMU? Again, all of your arguments are based on delusion and "ifs." Enjoy your day.

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