NC State, seen as swing vote on ACC expansion, welcomes new members

By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — NC State provided the expansion-clinching 12th vote to add Stanford, Cal and SMU to the ACC, according to multiple reports.

NC State chancellor Randy Woodson, though a school spokesman, declined to divulge how he voted Friday, referring it to the ACC. But he said the addition of schools in North California (Stanford and Cal) and Texas (SMU) will enhance the school's national brand.

"The NC State brand, and historical competitiveness of our programs, is already well-recognized and established," Woodson said in a statement to WRAL. "The addition of these outstanding universities gives us even greater opportunities to build on the Wolfpack's national presence, which in turn will generate more long-term benefits for our student-athletes, our athletic programs and our loyal fan base."

WRAL has reached out to school leaders at UNC and Duke to confirm their votes.

Florida State's president and athletic director confirmed it voted no. Clemson and North Carolina are also reported to have voted no.

The school had been one of four holdouts on expansion previously, according to multiple reports.

Stanford, Cal and SMU will join the ACC for the 2024-25 academic year, vastly expanding the league's geographic footprint and pushing its membership to 18 schools.