When the ACC’s athletic directors voted on May 7, 2025, to cut men’s basketball conference play from 20 to 18 games, seeking more marquee non‑conference matchups, Syracuse supporters immediately reignited calls for a Big East homecoming.
Fans argue the ACC’s rotating slate dilutes historic rivalries and urge the Orange to reclaim their original basketball identity.
Syracuse Fans Rally for Big East Homecoming
Across threads, Orange faithful lament that the new ACC format sacrifices guaranteed home‑and‑away showdowns with traditional foes.
One fan said, “Fans didn’t want them in the ACC—they loved the Big East. It was a football decision.”
Under the revamped model, Syracuse will play its primary partner home and away each season but face 14 other conference opponents just once, meaning the Orange could skip marquee Big East rivals entirely.
Many point to the Big East Tournament’s storied legacy at Madison Square Garden. As one user quipped, “We got to get back to playing conference tournaments in MSG and not in North Carolina lol.”
Even non‑Orange fans chimed in: “Come back to the Big East! We have 11 teams, so making it an even 12 makes sense.” Their arguments blend nostalgia with practical benefits—predictable scheduling, rekindled rivalries, and a return to the Garden’s electric atmosphere.
Fueling the debate further, a Change.org petition launched by Kelly Haggerty has gathered over 1,200 signatures, urging Syracuse University to “return to the heart of the Big East” within 45 days to “restore Syracuse University’s legacy.”
Though largely symbolic, the petition highlights a broader sentiment: many fans believe the Orange’s basketball soul resides where it first flourished.
Feasibility of a Big East Reunion
Any ACC departure would trigger steep financial penalties. In 2012, Syracuse agreed to a $7.5 million buyout and a 27‑month notice clause to exit the Big East—a package mirrored by Pittsburgh that summer.
Reversing course now would likely require similar concessions, compounded by today’s inflated media‑rights valuations.
Beyond exit fees, Syracuse must consider ACC television contracts and revenue sharing. Commissioner Jim Phillips emphasized, “This decision reflects our on‑going prioritization to do what’s best for ACC Men’s Basketball,” highlighting the conference’s commitment to stability and broadcast obligations.
While a Big East resurgence could rekindle matchups like Syracuse vs. Villanova or St. John’s, logistical and contractual hurdles make such a move improbable in the near term.
Many fans acknowledge that financial and contractual complexities outweigh sentimental desires, even as they yearn for the old rivalries.
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For now, Syracuse remains anchored in the ACC’s new 18‑game sea of rotating opponents, but the groundswell for a Big East homecoming underscores the enduring power of tradition in college hoops. Whether nostalgia can overcome the bottom line will unfold over the next few offseasons.
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