"ACC Journal: Cal and Stanford Prepare for Cross-Country Excursions"

As the Pac-12 Conference crumbled in the summer of 2023, a saving grace emerged for Cal and Stanford in the San Francisco Bay Area: the Atlantic Coast Conference.

During ACC media days in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, the Golden Bears and Cardinal football programs were formally introduced to their new conference counterparts.

Cal coach Justin Wilcox was questioned about his team's challenging schedule, which includes a trip to Auburn in Week 2 and a 2,200-mile journey to Tallahassee just two weeks later to face Florida State in ACC competition.

Also see this picks: Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Rams Pick & Prediction OCT 24th 2024 Also see this picks: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 14th 2024

\"If you had asked me two or three years ago, I probably wouldn't have believed it,\" said Wilcox, who is entering his eighth season as head coach.

Wilcox's statement could be considered an understatement of the college football media day season, highlighting the significant changes that have occurred in the sport in less than a year.

While courtrooms and TV network boardrooms have dominated the headlines, both Wilcox and Stanford head coach Troy Taylor shifted the focus to the level of play within the ACC, rather than the unusual distance between conference opponents.

\"We're grateful and excited to be a part of this conference and to compete against top teams,\" said Taylor, who is entering his second year as head coach of the Cardinal. \"... Being a part of the ACC and being here with all of you is an important part of our identity.\"

Stanford, a powerhouse program in the 2010s, is looking to bounce back from three consecutive 3-9 seasons. Meanwhile, Cal enters the ACC with one of the nation's top offensive weapons in running back Jaydn Ott.

Ott, who had 1,315 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, is just 15 rushing touchdowns away from tying the program's career record and 1,156 yards away from breaking the career yardage record.

\"It's an incredible feeling,\" Ott said of continuing his pursuit of history in the ACC. \"Playing against new competition, the ACC has a rich history and these are teams I grew up watching. I also have friends and family in the conference's region. My cousin D.J. (Uiagalelei) plays for Florida State and we'll face them again this year.\"

Also see this picks: North Texas vs. Memphis Tigers Pick & Prediction OCT 19th 2024 Also see this picks: Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 9th 2024

On Monday, the first day of ACC media days, Dallas-based SMU was introduced as the newest member of the conference, joining Cal and Stanford. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips also addressed questions about lawsuits filed by cornerstone members Clemson and Florida State regarding the league's grant of rights and exit fees.

\"I spend time every day on the legal cases,\" Phillips said on Monday. \"We have shown that we must continue to move forward despite these distractions and important issues that are a part of our daily lives.\"

Florida State is looking to move on from the disappointment of being left out of the 2023 College Football Playoff due to a late-season injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.

Despite being the undefeated ACC champions, the Seminoles were passed over for the fourth and final playoff spot in favor of Alabama. In the Orange Bowl, Florida State was soundly defeated by Georgia 63-3 after several players opted out of the game.

\"I always say, if we had lost the (ACC) championship game, I think most of those guys would have played,\" coach Mike Norvell told ESPN. \"It was a difficult situation to go through.\"

The snub is still fresh in the minds of the Seminoles players, but with Travis and other key players either graduating or moving on to the NFL, the 2024 roster is focused on making their own mark in the program's history.

\"Last year is in the past and we have a new team to focus on now,\" said offensive lineman Darius Washington. \"What happened last year hurt us, but dwelling on it won't help us now.\"