ESPN claims it was not driving the bus this offseason to bring Cal, Stanford, and SMU into the ACC.

It has been widely assumed that major networks were influential in pushing the latest round of conference realignment that led to the dissolution of the Pac-12. Former Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has said on the record that FOX offered up additional money if the Big Ten added Oregon and Washington in addition to USC and UCLA. CBS Sports recently reported that FOX opposed the Big 12’s courtship of UConn — a courtship that was put on pause last week.

This summer, in an attempt to not appear asleep at the wheel, the ACC offered Cal and Stanford a lifeline from the Pac-12. The league also brought in SMU at essentially no charge.

In an interview with WRAL’s Brian Murphy, ESPN senior director Jeramy Michiaels said there was a “misperception” that ESPN was involved in the ACC additions. Michiaels oversees the ACC Network and manages the working relationship between the network and the league.

“We’re very careful to not be part of the expansion discussion,” Michiaels told WRAL. “So the conference will come to us and ask us questions that are more about what markets are advantageous, but we’re very, very careful to not be part of talking about specific schools.

“There was sort of a misperception that ESPN is involved and has control of that, and we absolutely do not. We will answer questions to the extent that we feel like we can, and we did with the ACC, but this was solely the ACC’s decision, and we’re excited about it.”

The additions were a contentious period for the conference. According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel last September, Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina were against the move. Since then, Clemson and Florida State have both filed lawsuits against the ACC seeking an early exit ramp ahead of 2036 when the conference’s grant of rights expires.

SMU won’t receive broadcast revenue from the ACC for 9 years. Stanford and Cal agreed to receive just a 30% share of ACC payouts for 7 years and to not become fully vested members until their 10th year in the league.

At the time of their arrivals, commissioner Jim Phillips said the ACC was done shopping. Florida State and Clemson reportedly spoke with the Big 12, but the Big Ten (FOX) and SEC (ESPN) have both publicly stated a desire to stick with what they have for the time being.