Size matters for the ACC

If the expansion of the Atlantic Coast Conference proceeds as planned, Miami, Syracuse and Boston College will accept invitations to join Duke and the eight other ACC schools to form the fourth "super-conference" in the nation. While the addition of three new schools would solidify the ACC's place as a force in college athletics and increase revenue, expansion would threaten the survival of existing conference rivalries and non-major athletic conferences.

Expansion would hold a mixed bag of effects for Duke. In financial terms, increasing the number of members from nine to 12 would make the ACC eligible for a score of revenue-increasing bonuses. Duke's share of conference profits would increase from about $9 million to $12.5 million per year. This could have a tremendously positive impact on Duke athletes in non-revenue sports like women's rowing and track, where a lack of funds has traditionally stunted success. In addition, Miami, Syracuse and Boston College would each bring specific strengths to the ACC, which would increase competition in the conference and make recruiting easier for Duke coaches. Each of these schools are formidable in football and basketball, and Syracuse is a traditional powerhouse in men's and women's lacrosse as well as men's and women's soccer.

Unfortunately, expansion would have several negative effects. Increasing the number of teams would force the ACC to abandon its double round-robin regular season basketball format, which has ensured that all ACC teams play twice each year, once at each team's home venue. This format is impossible with twelve teams, meaning that tenters in Krzyzewskiville may not get to see a Duke vs. Maryland game or a Duke vs. UNC game every year.

Though often shifted to the background, several ACC coaches have acknowledged academic drawbacks to expansion. By extending the geographical region of the ACC from southern Florida to Boston, student-athletes will have to spend more time traveling longer distances, as opposed to spending that time studying in class.

Despite these challenges, the attributes of the 12-member ACC are hard to ignore. By expanding, the ACC is all but guaranteed to be in the hunt for a national championship in almost every revenue and non-revenue sport every year, and will move into three of very lucrative television markets-Boston, Miami, and New York. The ACC will also gain additional revenue and prominence by being eligible to hold a conference championship football game, and gaining an automatic BCS bid.

Expansion will draw the major money-makers, like Miami, away from non-major conferences like the Big East, penalizing small market teams. However, in order for the ACC to compete with other super-conferences such as the SEC and Big 12, expansion is a necessary step. A twelve member ACC will change the collegiate landscape tangibly, but will benefit Duke in the long run.