Stanford and SMU are bringing the big guns to plead their case for ACC membership.

Yahoo Sports reports Condoleezza Rice and George W. Bush have been reaching out to the ACC on behalf of the two Pac-12 schools – and Cal – for membership into the conference.

Rice, the former U.S. secretary of state, is a Stanford professor, while Bush’s wife, Laura, attended SMU and his presidential library is located on the school’s campus.

“Hell,” one conference executive told Yahoo, “if I had Condi Rice in my camp, I’d use her, too.”

According to Yahoo, an expansion vote by league presidents fell at least one vote short of passing. Twelve of 15 votes are needed for approval, but four schools voted against expansion: Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina and NC State. Notre Dame, per the report, gets a vote.

Stanford will need a conference home starting next July, and the school will have an impact on what is left of the conference.

Oregon State and Washington State have hired Oliver Luck, the former West Virginia athletic director and NCAA executive, to coordinate their next moves.

Check out Yahoo’s full report.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.