B1G best Miami Hurricanes fit if they leave ACC per national CFB expert

The Big 10 is the best fit for the Miami Hurricanes athletic program if they leave the ACC according to Brad Crawford of 247 Sports. Miami has a similar footprint playing in a major metropolitan area as many of the Big 10 schools and UCLA and USC which will join the conference in July 2024.

It was revealed this week that Clemson, Florida State and Miami led a group of seven ACC schools that also included North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia and Virginia Tech to examine the league’s grant of rights. The ACC’s grant of rights runs through 2036. The biggest issue is renegotiating the ACC TV contract.

Florida State athletic director Michael Alford told his board of trustees that ACC schools make $30 million less per year than Big 10 or SEC schools. The proposal from Alford and the seven schools that want a renegotiation of the TV contract is for programs to be awarded for postseason success.

Postseason success would apply significantly to the Miami Hurricanes basketball program. Miami has seven combined wins in the last two NCAA Tournaments. That ties Miami for the most nationally with Kansas. The Miami basketball success and five national championships in football could be a good fit for the Big 10.

"MIAMI HURRICANESBest fit if Miami leaves the ACC: Big Ten“What we’re hearing: The Big Ten “badly” wants a program in Florida to compete with the SEC on fertile recruiting soil and for more national attention. That’s the way one source put it.Miami was one of a couple ACC programs the Big Ten initially considered last summer during the realignment extravaganza, joining Florida State and UNC.With the conference already widening its reach to California with USC and UCLA, stretching deep into Florida seems like a no-brainer. Miami just wants out of the ACC, period, one source said.”"

The Miami Hurricanes basketball team had a 10-6 record in the ACC-Big 10 challenge which concluded last season. Maryland (who left the ACC for the Big 10 in 2014), Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers and Michigan which is part of the Detroit television market are all in major metropolitan areas.

Miami with an enrollment of 19,000 plus that includes graduate students is similar to Northwestern which has 22,000 plus. Maryland, Miami, Northwestern and Rutgers are also similar with locations in suburbs of major cities. Miami and Rutgers were Big East rivals from 1995 through 2004.

Ultimately Clemson, Florida State, Miami, or any of the “Magnificant seven”  leaving for another conference will be determined primarily by money. Being a member of the Association of American Universities is also important to the Big 10 when seeking expansion. Nebraska is currently the only Big 10 school not in the AAU.

Miami is the third-largest market for Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers alums in a 2018 study. Maryland, Michigan and Rutgers all have large alumni bases that could help Miami draw better, particularly for football than ACC opponents have. Miami would also provide the Big 10 with a foothold in Florida.

Big 10 football programs have always recruited well in Florida. Adding Miami would provide recruiters with another selling point for prospects wanting to play in front of their families. Miami joining the Big 10 would also provide the Hurricanes with a foothold in talent-rich areas in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote on Wednesday that “After exploring situation, UM, FSU, others expected to stay in ACC, with new revenue deal.” Schools leaving the ACC would owe a $120 million exit fee and the conference would own their rights through 2036. Expect potential expansion to continue to evolve.