The Potential Impact of The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 Alliance on Arizona State’s Future Scheduling

On Tuesday, Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten announced a long rumored alliance between the three conferences. This has been talked about since Texas and Oklahoma quickly changed its course and decided to head to the SEC and abandoning the Big 12.

In a press release, the Pac-12 said this about the alliance:

“The alliance – which was unanimously supported by the presidents, chancellors and athletics directors at all 41 institutions – will be guided in all cases by a commitment to, and prioritization of, supporting student-athlete well-being, academic and athletic opportunities, experiences and diverse educational programming. The three conferences are grounded in their support of broad-based athletic programs, the collegiate model and opportunities for student-athletes as part of the educational missions of the institutions.”

Later in the press release, it was also said that the alliance will work together to make scheduling work across all the sports. The focus will be on football as well as men’s and women’s basketball as stated below. It also said there will be an effort to “explore” opportunities in the Olympic Sport programs.

“The football scheduling alliance will feature additional attractive matchups across the three conferences while continuing to honor historic rivalries and the best traditions of college football.

In women’s and men’s basketball, the three conferences will add early and mid-season games as well as annual events that feature premier matchups between the three leagues.”

How will this affect Arizona State? The Sun Devil football currently have five home-and-home series scheduled against SEC foes starting in 2024 and extending out to 2033. In reality, the Sun Devils only have six home-and-home series currently scheduled against Power Five opponents as they’ll start one against Oklahoma State next season.

Here is a brief look at those SEC games currently scheduled:

2024 vs Mississippi State

2025 at Mississippi State

2026 at Texas A&M

2027 vs Texas A&M

2028 vs Florida

2029 at LSU

2030 vs LSU

2031 at Florida

2032 vs Texas*

2033 at Texas*

(*= Texas will be a part of the SEC in 2032 and 2033)

Obviously, nothing has been said about these games. However, it’s pretty easy to imagine that the alliance will now try to focus on scheduling games within the three conferences.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff told The Athletic on Tuesday that his conference will announce by the end of the week whether the league plans to add new members. He said he’s been exploring the possibility ever since the SEC invited Texas and Oklahoma last month.

It’s also been rumored that the remains of the Big 12, which includes Oklahoma State, might potential be a fit for a Pac-12 expansion. It certainly will be interesting to see over the next few months and years how quickly the non-conference will change.

What matchups would you like to see against Big Ten and ACC foes?