The North Carolina Tar Heels have been one of the premiere programs in the ACC for years now. But on Thursday, reports emerged that the North Carolina Tar Heels athletic program has interest in potentially departing from the conference in favor of a move to the SEC.
According to Adam Smith of Inside Carolina, the 247 Sports dedicated page to all things North Carolina sports, North Carolina is one of several ACC programs who are reportedly interested in a move away from the conference to the SEC. Clemson and Florida State are other programs who have an interest in a move away from the ACC.
Obviously, a move from any, or potentially even all three of the programs to the SEC would have seismic shift within the college sports landscape, creating an endless possibility of new rivalries to the sport of college football and even college basketball.
As for when this potential move could come, if it does at all, the 2030-31 school year looms large as a date to watch. This is when the $93 million exit fee that these school would have to pay the conference for leaving would decrease to a $75 million exit fee. Still substantial, but obviously more manageable.
While a potential move for a school like UNC would obviously bring on more potentially interest rivalries, it could also bring an end to some as well.
Duke and North Carolina have of course been bitter rivals for decades when it comes to college basketball. And as it currently stands, it doesn’t seem like Duke is all that keen on potentially leaving the conference, which could bring an end to one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports as we currently know it.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.