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Conference Realignment

ACC votes to add Louisville to fill void left by Maryland

By Chris Iseman

The Atlantic Coast Conference presidents and chancellors voted unanimously Wednesday to add Louisville to the conference to replace departing Maryland.

“The University of Louisville is an outstanding addition to the Atlantic Coast Conference and I commend the Council of Presidents for continuing to position our league for the long-term future,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a press release. “If you look at what has been done over the last 15 months, the ACC has only gotten stronger with the additions of Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse.”

The Big East requires schools give 27 months notice and pay a $10 million fee to leave the conference. Louisville could negotiate with the Big East to leave earlier than the required 27-month waiting period.

Maryland is leaving the ACC in 2014, which could be the same year the Cardinals join the conference.

Louisville is the latest team to leave the Big East, which has undergone a major realignment in the last year. Syracuse, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Notre Dame have all left. TCU agreed to join the league but left before ever playing a game as a member of the Big East.



Louisville brings a strong football and basketball presence to the ACC.

Louisville’s football team started its season 9-0 and was ranked as high as 11th this season before falling to Syracuse and Connecticut in its last two games. The Terrapins were only 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the ACC this season.

The addition of the Cardinals means the ACC will have a 14-team football conference in 2014.

The Cardinals’ top-level basketball team fits well with the ACC’s basketball landscape, which will include Syracuse, North Carolina and Duke.

“What I really like about this move is it’s terrific for our fans, with the proximity of the institutions and we never have to leave the Eastern time zone,” said Tom Jurich, Louisville vice president and athletic director. “This is a credit to everyone at the University of Louisville and our community, as we have all pulled together to position ourselves for this opportunity.”





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