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Ranking the ACC’s best expansion candidates to counter the Big 12

By John Scimeca

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 03: Corey Dauphine #6 of the Tulane Green Wave runs in a touchdown during the second quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 03: Corey Dauphine #6 of the Tulane Green Wave runs in a touchdown during the second quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 2: The Tulane Green Wave players celebrate following the teams 46-45 win over USC Trojans in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on January 2, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 2: The Tulane Green Wave players celebrate following the teams 46-45 win over USC Trojans in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on January 2, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

4. Tulane

The Green Wave had its best gridiron performance in 25 years last season, winning the American Athletic Conference title after beating the three teams that were about to leave for the Big 12: Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston. Head coach Willie Fritz has engineered a remarkable turnaround in the Big Easy and rejected overtures from the ACC’s Georgia Tech in order to stay with Tulane.

The school offers clear benefits as a premier entertainment destination and as a fertile recruiting ground in southern Louisiana — which might be among the nation’s best along with the metro areas of Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston.

Another less obvious advantage to adding Tulane is that it would provide the ACC with a logical geographical bridge into Texas. With the ACC closer to the Lone Star State, new and intriguing possibilities would open up and make more sense.

Tulane’s staying power as a strong, viable program after the success of 2022 will be put to the test early this fall. The Green Wave have games against South Alabama (which won 10 games last year) and Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss begin this season.

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