From today's On3 email newsletter - not a lot new here, for those of you who follow it closely. Teel's article from yesterday (?) is informative as well. ============================ Is there room for Stanford – with its virtually unparalleled academic-athletic one-two punch, Directors' Cup dominance and campus flush with world-class athletes – in a Power 5 conference? If not, what does that say about the current college sports enterprise? The last remnants of the ruined Pac-12 – Stanford, California, Oregon State and Washington State – still need a home. The Big Ten's West Coast recruiting efforts appear done for now. The Big 12 is signaling it is content at 16 schools. And while ACC leadership has engaged in multiple meetings to flesh out financial implications of adding Stanford and Cal, the league remains a house divided. Twelve of 15 schools need to be on-board for Bay Area expansion. The majority are, most notably Notre Dame, but opposition is not a surprise. One ACC source told On3 that kicking the tires on Bay Area expansion has been a "reality check." Challenges abound. There are zero signs the additions would allay concerns emerging from Florida State, whose leadership has been pounding the table for more revenue. Frustration mounts among the league's biggest brands over watching helplessly as the SEC and Big Ten in the coming years widen the annual revenue gap to $30 million. Logistical travel challenges and associated costs are daunting. And, perhaps most importantly, adding the Bay Area schools wouldn't markedly grow the league's revenue pie enough to warrant Western expansion. One veteran TV source: "It wouldn't make any difference." Another: "Does not make sense to me. Why does ESPN want to ante up more money to make that happen? If they were to ante up more money, existing schools like Florida State would want more first." If the ACC passes, Cal and Stanford would likely be out of Power 5 options during this realignment round. Meantime, Oregon State and Washington State are "getting their minds wrapped around" what Mountain West Conference membership would entail, sources told On3. Gloria Nevarez, the MWC commissioner, told On3 that the league wants to add anywhere between one and all four Pac-12 schools. If the MWC fails to land any of them, Nevarez said it would feel like a "missed opportunity for sure." The AAC is also interested in adding Pac-4 schools. As for Cal and Stanford, Power 5 options may be dwindling as their cruel summer continues. Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick told ESPN's Heather Dinich, "The notion that two of the very best academic institutions in the world, who also play D-I sports, could be abandoned in this latest chapter of realignment is an indictment of college athletics." – Eric Prisbell