If the Protect College Sports Act becomes law as it's currently written, it would set the rules for the next round of conference realignment. Before the Senate passed the bipartisan bill Monday, it adopted a provision capping each Power 4 conference at 20 teams. Any school moving between P4 leagues would have to spend three years as an independent first, a probationary rule that would expire after six years. With media rights deals expiring in the early 2030s, the 20-team cap offers a fascinating blueprint for what comes next.
The ACC could face the most defections. It currently sits at 17 members with a lagging media rights deal, and it could need anywhere from three to nine additions.
Its options stretch from the American Conference to what's left of the old Pac-12, and beyond. Notre Dame, James Madison, and UConn also stand out as strong candidates. Notre Dame, already an ACC member in most other sports, would be the ultimate prize, though the Fighting Irish have fiercely protected their football independence. JMU is off to a hot start under Billy Napier, and UConn has revived its football program while offering basketball powerhouses that would be a coup for the ACC.
The biggest moves, though, happen at the top. The Big Ten has two open spots, and the SEC and Big 12 have four apiece. See which national brands would land in each league, and which heated rivalries could end up sharing a conference.
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