Which conference should Miami join if the Hurricanes leave the ACC?

Amidst the disappearance of the Pac-12 and the realignment of the (now) Power 4 conferences, the next one on the chopping block might be the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Now that the Pac-12 is gone, the ACC is projected to be the lowest P4 conference regarding revenue.

This has led to many conversations about programs like North Carolina and Miami leaving the conference for a new home base and (literally) greener pastures.

While the Hurricanes’ athletic director Dan Radakovich has squashed the rumors that Miami will be going anywhere, anytime soon, which other conference would make a good home for the Canes?

The Big Ten

The Big Ten is one of the biggest and most powerful conferences as of late, as the SEC fell short of a football national title last season and will have two fewer teams in 2024.

With perennial programs like Michigan, Ohio State, and USC filling up three spots in the conference, Miami may be sorely mistaken by thinking there is still room for the Canes.

Not to mention, a majority of the Big Ten is throughout the midwestern and northeastern regions of the United States, with four programs from the West Coast. 

The Hurricanes would have to travel thousands of miles to play almost any conference opponent and vice versa when a team visits Miami.

To put it concisely, the Canes should avoid the Big Ten at all costs.

The Big 12

The Big 12 has been at the forefront of rumors about Miami possibly abandoning the ACC ship and there is good reason for it.

The conference only has 16 member teams after the most recent realignment, making it one of the two smaller conferences along with the SEC.

Beyond being able to join a smaller conference, the Big 12 lacks the plethora of perrenial programs that the SEC and the Big 12 can boast.

Sure, Kansas is a basketball blue blood and Colorado had its glory days in football but there isn't an on-going list of programs that dominate sports across the board.

The SEC

It was already surprising when the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners announced that they would be joining the Southeastern Conference.

With powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia always looming large in the SEC, many athletic programs have avoided the conference like the plague.

While geographically speaking, the SEC may make the most sense for the Canes, the Miami athletic department needs to focus on winning titles before it even thinks about entering the SEC.

This is not to say that Miami would never win a national title in any sport if it were to join the SEC, but for now, Miami would be better off staying in the ACC similar to how Oregon State and Washington State have remained in the 'Pac-2.'

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