North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham indicated that the school’s code-named exploration of conference realignment was “‘very, very logical’ amid fresh local scrutiny into the Carolina Blue matter,” according to Baker & Marks of THE ATHLETIC. Cunningham said they did not “know what the outcome is going to be” when Florida State and Clemson sued the ACC. He added, “So just doing our due diligence of ‘What are some scenarios that could happen? And how do we best position ourselves for a future that is uncertain?’ That’s as simple as it is.” Baker & Marks note UNC spent $600,000 in “realignment-related legal expenses” from the fall of 2022 through November 2024. Cunningham indicated that after consulting with law firm Skadden, UNC “never got close to taking legal action against the ACC” -- unlike FSU and Clemson, which have challenged the contracts that bind schools to the league. Cunningham said the school has “always said we support the league” and “we’re going to continue to be a strong member” (THE ATHLETIC, 2/20).
UNC’s Cunningham addresses code-named conference realignment initiative
