Who are these folks? Here’s a look at new ACC schools California, Stanford and SMU

The ACC’s expansion, spawned from the Pac-12’s implosion last August and quickly finalized, becomes official this summer.

Southern Methodist University became a full-time member on July 1, while membership for Stanford and Cal becomes official on Aug. 2.

Here’s what to know about the ACC’s new far-flung schools, as one day soon Katie Ledecky, Jason Kidd and Bryson DeChambeau will be celebrated as ACC legends.

Cal Golden Bears

The University of California-Berkeley comes to the ACC after more than 100 years in one conference. Cal, also referred to as UC-Berkeley, joined the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915 as a founding member and remained in the league through member changes and rebranding.

It features 30 varsity sports — 14 men’s programs and 16 women’s teams — while also sponsoring three club sports. The Golden Bears have won 104 team national championships and 331 individual titles, including a school-leading 33 rugby championships. Many of its other championships came in the water, either in swimming, rowing or water polo.

Cal boasts at least one national championship every year, with the exception of 2020, since the 1973-74 season and at least one national championship in 88 of 103 years.

Additionally, Cal athletes have won 159 Olympic medals, including 91 gold. All but one medal was earned in the summer games. Its alumni base includes Olympic swimmers Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin, NBA All-Star Jason Kidd and All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch.

The Golden Bears have not seen the same level of success in football, basketball or baseball that other ACC programs boast. Cal’s football team is coached by Justin Wilcox and has made a bowl game in two seasons since his hire in 2017. The women’s basketball and baseball teams have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019, while the men’s hoops program hasn’t qualified for March Madness since 2016.

In softball, the Golden Bears have made two consecutive tournament appearances and won a national championship in 2002.

Stanford Cardinal

Stanford also spent more than 100 years in the Pac-12, joining then-PCC competition in 1918. It funds 36 varsity teams; 16 men’s teams, 19 women’s and two co-ed.

Cal and Stanford have become strong contenders in men’s and women’s gymnastics, with both schools finishing in their respective top 10s. The Golden Bears placed second in the women’s NCAA Championship behind LSU. Stanford won the men’s gymnastics title in 2024.

Stanford football has not made a bowl game since 2018, under David Shaw, and went 3-9 under first-year Cardinal head coach Troy Taylor.

The men’s basketball team hasn’t made an NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade, but the women’s program dominated its side of the sport. It made 36 straight NCAA Tournament appearances — all but one coming under the leadership of now-retired head coach Tara VanDerveer — and boasts three national titles and 14 Final Fours. N.C. State defeated the Cardinal in the 2024 Sweet 16.

In 2024, Cardinal softball made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season and second straight Women’s College World Series. It finished third both times.

The Cardinal has won 136 team national championships and 554 individual national titles, both rank No. 1 in Division I.

Stanford won at least one NCAA team title each academic year since 1976-77, which is the longest streak in NCAA history.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams combined for 37 team championships and 19 combined swimming championships. Women’s golf also won an NCAA national championship in 2024.

Stanford athletes have won 296 Summer Olympic medals, including 150 gold. The Cardinal’s notable alumni list includes Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway, Olympic beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh-Jennings, Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky and five-time Master’s winner Tiger Woods.

SMU Mustangs

SMU, located in Dallas, is the smallest and lesser-known university of the three joining the ACC and is part of its fifth conference in school history.

The Mustangs were a member of the Southwest Conference from 1918 until the league disbanded in 1996. They competed in the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the American from 1996-2004. Aside from its nearly eight decades in the Southwest, SMU’s 11-season stint in the American was its longest in school history.

The university fields just 17 total sports, including 10 women’s programs, and has won four NCAA national team championships. It does not include other championships, such as cheerleading and equestrian. Cheerleading national titles are not awarded by the NCAA, while equestrian is an NCAA-sanctioned sport but does not have an official championship.

The Mustangs claim three football national championships, all of which were awarded by selection.

SMU football won the 2023 American Championship and advanced to bowl games in the last two seasons. The Mustangs lost to would-be conference foe Boston College in the 2023 Fenway Bowl. The Mustangs are coached by Rhett Lashlee, who spent the 2020-21 seasons with Miami as its offensive coordinator and QBs coach.

The men’s basketball team hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2017, while the women’s program hasn’t made the tournament since 2008. SMU does not sponsor baseball, softball or gymnastics.

2024 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice and Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry are among its top former athletes.