Implications of the death of the ACC: Who should the SEC approach?

[TheBlueMist]

Schools not included in the "Magnificent 7": Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, and Boston College.

Considering that football is driving realignment and where teams migrate, which schools fit the criteria of worthy football program for the SEC and competent to good basketball program that will improve competition in the conference? When considering these possibilities, I weigh legacy/history, current culture and performance, conference footprint/market, and forecasted performance based on numerous factors (e.g., population growth, potential investments, the health of the educational organization). A Sea of Blue noted that the SEC would probably look at 1-2 schools with the rest moving to the Big Ten.

Article on cbssports.com

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

I’ve always thought that NC State and VATech should get an invite to join the SEC. Reason would be to get a presence in those states.

But with football being the driving force I could see them going after Clemson and one of the Florida schools, even though they already have programs from those states.

 

[bowfreak]

Clemson, FSU and Miami are no brainers. I would also add UNC. Their basketball and football programs are on similar footing as UK and they would make a big splash even knowing basketball doesn't really matter.

*Edit-WidcatfaninOhio makes a very good point.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

When will this happen, 2028?

 

[JonathanW]

UNC is the interesting one, considering the former long-time ACC commish was a UNC guy.

UNC or NC St. I'd selfishly like NC St, I'd get season tickets just so could watch when UK plays in Raleigh.
UVA or Va Tech makes sense too. Really any of the 7 makes sense. But adding 2 from the same state makes less sense.

 

[SemperFiCat]

I’ve always thought that NC State and VATech should get an invite to join the SEC. Reason would be to get a presence in those states.

But with football being the driving force I could see them going after Clemson and one of the Florida schools, even though they already have programs from those states.

Having lived in Virginia for about a decade, my impression of VaTech fans is that they would fit right in with SEC. Beautiful campus too. I lived in Charlottesville (UVA) and the Tech fans pride themselves on being the blue collar school compared to the sometimes snoody UVA folks.

 

[chroix]

Making Florida/FSU a regular season game? Yes please. Add them and VA Tech, Clemson and UNC and do other conferences even matter at all at that point?

 

[blue cincy]

UNC, Clemson, MIAMI, Virginia if only 4, if 6 get FSU and VA Tech or NC State.

 

[Big Blue in 502]

Oh I would love this! Just when UofL got into the cool kids club, the cool kids leave and go to a better club. UofL ends up in a mid level conference again. 😆😆😆😆. Plus it's gotta be a shot to the nurts to the Dook elitists to not be included in the Magnificent 7.

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

Having lived in Virginia for about a decade, my impression of VaTech fans is that they would fit right in with SEC. Beautiful campus too. I lived in Charlottesville (UVA) and the Tech fans pride themselves on being the blue collar school compared to the sometimes snoody UVA folks.

Lived in Roanoke, VA from 2014-2018, and loved it there. Agree with your sentiment here. I really like both schools campuses, facilities, etc. The UVA/VT rivalry is a fun one, even when the teams aren't that great.

 

[Ron Mehico]

The Virginia and North Carolina TV markets would make sense to be added, so it’ll either be VTech/NC State or UVA/UNC. I’d prefer the latter but I feel their profile probably better fits the Big Ten.

 

[bucsrule8872]

North Carolina and Virginia/DC markets are probably pretty attractive to the SEC. They will probably go after UNC or NC St. and UVA or VaTech.

 

[clevenger32]

NC State and Virginia Tech are land grants like UK, UTenn, Georgia, and Florida in the East. While the argument can be made that South Carolina opens the SEC up to the Charlotte TV Market, NC State (The people's choice) would open up the entire state of North Carolina. Va Tech would open up the Commonwealth. I wouldn't put out North Carolina at Chapel Hill if it was on fire. They aren't worthy of the SEC. All the other schools, FSU, Miami, Clemson would have to be signed off on by Florida or South Carolina and I am not sure that that would happen.

 

[KYExtemper]

NC State and Virginia Tech are land grants like UK, UTenn, Georgia, and Florida in the East. While the argument can be made that South Carolina opens the SEC up to the Charlotte TV Market, NC State (The people's choice) would open up the entire state of North Carolina. Va Tech would open up the Commonwealth. I wouldn't put out North Carolina at Chapel Hill if it was on fire. They aren't worthy of the SEC. All the other schools, FSU, Miami, Clemson would have to be signed off on by Florida or South Carolina and I am not sure that that would happen.

The only part about your last bit is that the SEC powers that be didn't care about Texas A&M's objection to adding Texas.

 

[bucsrule8872]

The only part about your last bit is that the SEC powers that be didn't care about Texas A&M's objection to adding Texas.

I am wondering about that myself, but I wonder if new members have that power like charter members do?

 

[billCgmx]

Don't see a need to add both FSU and Miami.

 

[mc140]

At some point the Big Ten and SEC will get bloated to the point of another break away. Why split money 20 or 24 ways if you can make more per school with say 8 or 10?

 

[K_TIME]

This is about football first, then adding markets not currently in a given State second and finally...your current schools and how pissed they'd be.

- UNC makes all the sense in the world. SEC has no North Carolina market. Basketball school for sure but not a terrible football school
- One of FSU or Miami. I'd argue Miami as they are southern Florida market more than UF is northern Florida market.
- Clemson is obvious but how is USC goign to react is hard to call.

Would SEC only add 2 is my question....are they open to 3 or does it have to be even number (i.e. 2 or 4), Could SEC hold 4 teams added?

And if we add 2 more...I'd argue UNC is top of list and one of Miami/FSU.

 

[KYExtemper]

Don't see a need to add both FSU and Miami.

Me either and Miami's Board of Regents haven't been very supportive of their athletics in recent years, much to the chagrin of alumni. I'd rather take FSU.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

I think of everything in basketball terms because that's what I care about the most.

I would take
Duke
Florida State

To take us to 18 teams.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

South Florida ( Miami area ) is a Football Gold Mine so the Canes are a no brainer along with Virginia or Virginia Tech and North Carolina or State.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

South Florida ( Miami area ) is a Football Gold Mine so the Canes are a no brainer along with Virginia or Virginia Tech and North Carolina or State.

That talent down there hasn't really helped Miami be relevant in the last 20 years, or prevented that talent from leaving to go elsewhere (Mama, Auburn, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, you name it)

Miami is not the brand it used to be, not even close, I don't really see the value of adding them.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

That talent down there hasn't really helped Miami be relevant in the last 20 years, or prevented that talent from leaving to go elsewhere (Mama, Auburn, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, you name it)

Miami is not the brand it used to be, not even close, I don't really see the value of adding them.

Disagree the City of Miami along with South Florida is a huge TV market. Miami demise was losing their strangle hold on all of that talent that is spread across the country now. During their hay day they owned the area and the wins and dominance showed.

 

[clevenger32]

The only part about your last bit is that the SEC powers that be didn't care about Texas A&M's objection to adding Texas.

I think the charter members don’t care what the non-charter members say or want. They get the privilege of being in the conference but get no say on decision making.

 

[YardCat]

Oh I would love this! Just when UofL got into the cool kids club, the cool kids leave and go to a better club. UofL ends up in a mid level conference again. 😆😆😆😆. Plus it's gotta be a shot to the nurts to the Dook elitists to not be included in the Magnificent 7.

Memphis and UAB are ready to fill in for Clemson and VaTech. Then the Old Conference USA reunites

 

[Cotaay]

Brands are more important than markets these days. FSU might not add anything market wise but put them against Texas or LSU and it will outdraw Virginia or NC St in the same matchup 10 out of 10 times. Miami and USC are maybe the only big time football program that will draw more viewers outside their footprint than inside, adding the South Florida market probably isn’t that huge a deal honestly. Nobody that lives there is really from there, and if you are you probably don’t give a shit about college football, but nationally Miami is still draws.

IMO Florida St and Miami are the two biggest gets in the ACC currently, Clemson is 3rd but a lot of their current appeal is the fact they have been good recently, not sure how much that will carry over once they become meh again.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

Not sold on Clemson. How will they do after Dabo retires? I like FSU, but I have ties there. UNC= BIG 10. I like the grittiness of the Hokies. Wake= Vandy. UVa leaves me flat. Miami is interesting, but do you really want 4 schools from FL? Maybe GA Tech. Atlanta's so big there have got to be decent prospects there.

 

[KYCAT78]

North Carolina and Virginia/DC markets are probably pretty attractive to the SEC. They will probably go after UNC or NC St. and UVA or VaTech.

Nothing in DC or Northern Virginia is worth having.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Brands are more important than markets these days. FSU might not add anything market wise but put them against Texas or LSU and it will outdraw Virginia or NC St in the same matchup 10 out of 10 times. Miami and USC are maybe the only big time football program that will draw more viewers outside their footprint than inside, adding the South Florida market probably isn’t that huge a deal honestly. Nobody that lives there is really from there, and if you are you probably don’t give a shit about college football, but nationally Miami is still draws.

IMO Florida St and Miami are the two biggest gets in the ACC currently, Clemson is 3rd but a lot of their current appeal is the fact they have been good recently, not sure how much that will carry over once they become meh again.

Good point.

With streaming and such, markets are not nearly as important as they were 10 years ago.

Still, markets must be important because there is always talk about “extending the footprint.”

If new markets are the driving force, then North Carolina and Virginia/DC are the most coveted ACC territory.

So, the SEC might try to get their hold there by adding one of UNC or NCSU and one of UVA or VT.

Then you either hold at 18 or you pull in the two best schools available.

I think UVA is going to be targeted by the Big Ten. UNC might also be on their radar.

 

[YardCat]

I can see the SEC wanting the DC area, why I don’t really know, but that does open up more Northern viewers that have been submitted to bad football for years.

 

[JonathanW]

Disagree the City of Miami along with South Florida is a huge TV market. Miami demise was losing their strangle hold on all of that talent that is spread across the country now. During their hay day they owned the area and the wins and dominance showed.

Huge TV market. But....do they really care about college sports there? I don't think so.

 

[RondoBaller21]

UNC and Duke for obvious reasons lol

 

[Fox2monk]

Oh I would love this! Just when UofL got into the cool kids club, the cool kids leave and go to a better club. UofL ends up in a mid level conference again. 😆😆😆😆. Plus it's gotta be a shot to the nurts to the Dook elitists to not be included in the Magnificent 7.

Nothing would make me smile more than Duke going to the MVC or something.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

Disagree the City of Miami along with South Florida is a huge TV market. Miami demise was losing their strangle hold on all of that talent that is spread across the country now. During their hay day they owned the area and the wins and dominance showed.

First of all- the Tampa TV market is larger than the Miami TV market (Tampa is 13th in the nation, Miami is 18th).

So if TV market is what you're worried about, we should go get USF instead- but the same issue applies- neither Miami nor Tampa really care about their "hometown schools" that much.

As someone who lives in FL and goes to Miami 4 or 5 times a year- it's a solid TV market that the SEC is already in.

There are more Florida and Florida State fans in Miami than Miami fans. Honestly, because of all of the New England and Northeast transplants, there might be more fans of other schools than Miami down there as well.

They can't even come close to filling their stadium, and no one is interested in their games.

During their heyday they were just cheating better than everyone else (which has been proven).

We can have a stranglehold on the Miami (and Tampa) markets by securing both Florida and Florida State. Miami is not needed to do that.

And it may help keep marginally more talent in conference but the SEC is already cleaning up in Florida as a whole (by far the best state for HS talent in the country).

You have to take Florida State over Miami every day of the week.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Clemson, FSU and Miami are no brainers. I would also add UNC. Their basketball and football programs are on similar footing as UK and they would make a big splash even knowing basketball doesn't really matter.

*Edit-WidcatfaninOhio makes a very good point.

How many city schools are in the sec? I don’t care about miamis fb history they don’t belong in the conference. FSU UNC Clemson nc state Georgia tech, va, va tech,

 

[hunterm11]

UNC and VTech.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Huge TV market. But....do they really care about college sports there? I don't think so.

Don’t forget you don’t need actual eyeballs watching. You just need people that buy cable and streaming services. What this does is put the SEC network on basic packages. Don’t get me wrong brands matter too. Look at Rutgers and Maryland. Are they killer brands? No but the B1G got those gigantic markets. NC, Miami etc might actually be better than Clemson for money draw. Crazy world we live in.

 

[Magilla Gorillla]

I’m not sure how they’re gonna get out of the GOR agreement that they all agreed to and all signed. If it were easy to get out of they would have done it years ago.

 

[TheBlueMist]

I’m not sure how they’re gonna get out of the GOR agreement that they all agreed to and all signed. If it were easy to get out of they would have done it years ago.

If one or two teams want to leave sure, but if half the conference wants out, that's another story.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

I’d want
Clemson (Definitely A FOOTBALL school arguably just as popular in SC as the Gamecocks. Culturally I think they could fit the SEC.)

Miami (South Florida market. Toughest call of all, I would be happy with FSU too as their football have been successful more recently.)

North Carolina (Overall better athletic program than NCSU, who is so-so in football and basketball, and Duke, who is entirely a basketball school. Only negative is the snooty “Southern Ivy” attitude.)

Virginia Tech (Better football programs and bigger fanbase than UVA. Also doesn’t come with the snooty ”Southern Ivy” attitude of UVA.)