It is not a false report. Have heard Miami AD and football/basketball coaches speak and they all talk about joining the ACC when Clemson/Florida State leave. Not the American, the ACC. I'm sure the American would be the first step. It sounds like the American is not interested however.
Link to article in The Athletic where it's discussed:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7641539/2026/09/29/miami...They are getting snubbed by the American and still think they will land in the ACC? Seriously?
Silly fiami. Delusional much.
Besides, it's UNC to the SEC and Virginia to the Big10 on the horizon. Maybe.
Not Miami, but looks like the American is taking on a new member...
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/50166450/j...And I'll be the first to say this: With JMU now out of the Sun Belt, that leaves a spot open. A certain team wearing Green and White would make a good fit.
Opportunity knocks.
As much as I would like to dunk on Miami for not being the selection I have a sneaking suspicion that they are likely next and that it could happen soon. We are in a critical time for the MAC, with a clear tier structure in terms of donor support and institutional health (enrollment, funds, etc) with Miami having to be at the top of that list given the sudden wave of funds. In realignment cycles things tend to be really slow moving but once the first domino falls things happen and happen quickly. If the next domino is Miami, the following would also be looking to move:
- Toledo
- UMass (despite their lack of success they have real resources and a clear desire to be good)
- WMU
- Buffalo (one of few schools who has kept enrollment up and is in a true city)
- Ohio
My doomsday scenarios would be:
- Take the place of JMU in the SunBelt. The Sunbelt east is App State, Coastal, ODU, Marshall, Ga State, Ga Southern. Even without JMU that isn't a bad place to be.
- Join forces with the other MAC schools listed above to try to create an east division of the Mountain West with NIU.
- Those are really the only 2 options I can see, unless we suddenly find $40M to try to make a run at the AAC but the AAC honestly feels out of reach.