When does Cal join ACC? Exploring the latest transition of former Pac-12 team into Atlantic Coast

The Cal Golden Bears will officially be joining the ACC on Aug. 2. California is one of three teams that the Atlantic Coast Conference has taken in after the college football realignment.

Following the Pac-12 collapse, Cal, alongside Stanford, left the conference to join the ACC. Both schools will officially be introduced on Aug. 2. Along with those two programs, SMU has also joined the ACC and became members on Monday, July 1.

Cal is taking reduced media rights revenue shares of around 30% when it entered the conference, which helped the members vote for the University of California, Berkeley, as the other schools will be getting more money.

The Golden Bears will have notable football games against Florida State, Miami, Pitt, NC State and Stanford this season, among others, in conference matchups.

Cal is not expected to do well in the ACC, as DraftKings has it at +9000 to win the conference, which implies a 1.1% chance of winning.

ACC commissioner eager for Cal, Stanford, as SMU joins

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips released a statement on July 1 after SMU joined the conference officially, with Cal and Stanford set to join on Aug. 2.

“This summer marks a momentous occasion for the ACC with the addition of three prestigious institutions – Cal, SMU and Stanford,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, in a statement.

“Since our announcement last September, the conference has been diligently preparing to become an 18-member league that spans from coast to coast. We look forward to the future of this incredible league and extend a warm welcome to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus communities, alumni, and supporters of Cal, SMU and Stanford into the ACC.”

Despite the ACC adding those three schools, the conference is dealing with some turbulence as several members are trying to leave the conference.

Florida State, Clemson, UNC and NC State have all vented their frustration with the conference due to media rights.

FSU and Clemson are suing the ACC as both schools look to leave the conference and are trying to not have to pay an exit fee.

Florida State president Rick McCullough has been vocal about why FSU wants to make a move out of the ACC.

"Our goal would be to stay in the ACC," McCullough said. "But staying in the ACC under the current situation is hard for us to figure out how we remain competitive. Unless there were a major change in the revenue distribution within the conference

"I believe FSU will, at some point, have to very seriously consider leaving the ACC unless there is a radical change to the revenue distribution."

Entering 2024, ACC has 17 schools in football.