Realignment Watch: Time for Miami (OH) to Move Up

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James Madison joining the American Athletic Conference (AAC) is the kind of realignment move where you say, “Yeah, of course.” But if that happens, then the Dukes would become the ACC’s 16th member. The rub is that with eight conference games vs. the nine Power 4 play (ACC is moving to 9 games in 2027), you will have 16 teams and play 8 of 15 possible opponents.

That is an important threshold in the 24-team CFP. With a single table, no divisions, and no conference championship game, falling below that 50% threshold eliminates common opponents as a possible tiebreaker at season’s end. Bottom line: A 6-team conference can accommodate at most 16.

So who will it be? UConn is offering FB only. But why get back in bed with a school that already ditched the AAC? And with basketball still waiting on the ACC/Big 12 to call, the ACC would be securing an asset with one foot out the door. Translation? It ain’t gonna’ happen.

That leaves Miami OH as the logical 16th football team (15th in basketball). The RedHawks bring assets, too: $40 million to join and a quarter-billion-dollar basketball arena on the way. Academically outstanding (it’s what’s called “a Public Ivy”), Miami consistently competes for Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles, including a 32-2 basketball run last year.

Air Force, the next best option, is fine in the Mountain West for now, and that makes Miami (OH) an easy decisiion for the conference presidents. So much so that I believe it’s not if, but only a matter of time.