CGN Roundtable: Cal and Stanford to the ACC

On Friday, we had more conference realignment news as California and Stanford were officially added to the ACC. To follow up on our roundtable last week, we wanted to do a mini edition to touch on this news and what it means for both the infant ACC as well as the two NorCal schools.

What was your reaction to California and Stanford joining the ACC?

Mary Emma: I feel the same way about it as I felt when Washington announced it was moving to the Big Ten (see answer in previous round table). I also dislike that after a fun 2024 competitive ACC Championship, the championship will just become the Cal show, like how the Big 12 Championship has been the Oklahoma show for the last decade. The one positive of the decision is that more teams means that ACC gymnastics won’t die if some of the rumored programs currently in the ACC end up leaving. On a side note, I hope they end up changing the name of the conference because the ATLANTIC Coast Conference with two Bay Area teams is an insult to geography.

Alyssa: I had mixed emotions. I am not a fan of the Atlantic Coast Conference having two teams that are literally on the Pacific coast, but those are two fun teams to add. This season is looking to be a close competition for the conference title, but as soon as California shows up, the Golden Bears will likely take over the conference championships. The championships will then lose the competitiveness that would make them so exciting. 

Naomi: Thanks, I hate it. I get that Cal and Stanford needed somewhere to go with the death of the Pac-12, but I wish they picked a more geographically sensible conference. I also feel like Cal is going to completely dominate the conference, meaning we’re losing both the competitiveness of the Pac-12 and the ACC.

Tara: It still feels weird to me…After all, it’s the ATLANTIC Coast Conference. It did feel somewhat inevitable as time went on and talks continued, so the decision wasn’t entirely shocking. 

How do you think these teams will perform gymnastically?

Mary Emma: Currently, Stanford should be fairly competitive with the likes of N.C. State and North Carolina and will fit well into the conference in that aspect. Cal will probably dominate the conference for at least the first few years though. 

Alyssa: Both teams have been good and have been recruiting well, so I would expect the gymnastics at Stanford and California to bring the teams to the top two spots in the conference ranking immediately. Stanford could be challenged by the rest of the ACC teams, but the Cardinals would be favored to surpass the original conference members. 

Naomi: I honestly think Cal and Stanford will take the first and second slots in the conference. Stanford will be challenged by the other ACC teams, especially North Carolina and N.C. State, but I don’t see Cal facing much competition at all. And with the way recruiting has been going at Stanford, they might not even be challenged all that much.

Tara: Adding Cal and Stanford makes ACC gymnastics more competitive. The Golden Bears continue to be on an upward trajectory, while Stanford’s recruiting has been great lately and the Cardinal appear to have put the recent rough seasons in the past. I can definitely see Cal stepping in and immediately becoming a conference title favorite. Stanford shouldn’t be too far behind, either. 

Similarly, how does this change help or push the existing ACC teams, especially with the conference in a gymnastics sense being so new?

Mary Emma: Having Cal in the conference will definitely push the other teams to want to be better, so they don’t get left behind.

 

Alyssa: Finally being able to compete as a Power Five conference has already lit a fire under the current ACC teams. It has helped with recruiting in schools like N.C. State and North Carolina, and Pittsburgh switched out its coaching staff. Those moves will only continue once California and Stanford are added.

Naomi: Maybe with Cal in the mix the existing ACC teams will be pushed to improve, and maybe it will lead to more talented recruits and general attention going to the ACC. Cal and Stanford have decent gymnastics fan bases, and I think bringing that to the ACC will help the conference.

Tara: I think it could push the other teams to improve. The ACC being a major conference has already done that to a certain extent, and adding a couple high profile teams could push those teams even more. 

Oregon State is the only team now in the Pac-12. What do you suggest it do?

Mary Emma: Ideally, I’d like it to move to the Big 12, since it’s used to competing against most of the teams in the conference since a lot of them just left the Pac-12. It would also bring the conference to an even eight teams instead of the annoying seven teams like the MAC. Realistically though, I see the Beavers joining the newly formed Mountain West or staying independent.

Alyssa: I am going to echo Mary Emma’s sentiment of Oregon State becoming a part of the Big 12 so that conference has eight teams instead of seven. There would be a talent discrepancy, but if geography was still a factor I could see the MPSF or Mountain West Conference

Naomi: I like the idea of Oregon State joining the Big 12. I think it would slot right into that conference in terms of gymnastics, and the geography is not as bad as it could be.

 

Tara: Joining the Mountain West seems like the most logical option, especially geographically. However, geography has clearly been thrown out the window—who knows what will happen. I do like the idea of the Beavers joining the Big 12, though it appears the conference may be done expanding. Should it end up in a conference that doesn’t sponsor gymnastics, these two conferences should be at the forefront for Oregon State to join as an affiliate member. 

And finally, do you see any more conference realignment on the horizon or will things finally settle down with the football season starting and gymnastics right around the corner?

Mary Emma: I really hope not. I can barely keep track of all the changes for the 2025 season, so I don’t need any more. The only changes I will accept at this point are new conferences for Oregon State and Southern Utah, since they are both in limbo at the moment. There have been a few other rumors I’ve heard floating around, but I hope those either don’t happen at all or wait until the 2026 season. 

Alyssa: I hope not, this has already been too much for me. I could see Southern Utah and Oregon State getting homes, but I would prefer to not see more than that. I would not be overly shocked if the SEC does decide to claim a Clemson or North Carolina though.

Naomi: All I can say is I hope this is the last roundtable on the subject for a long time. 

 

Tara: Gosh, I hope not. It certainly feels like most of the major moves have happened, but then again, I never thought it would go this far. 

 

READ THIS NEXT: CGN Roundtable: Conference Realignment

Article by the editors of College Gym News