Which 4 schools do you want to get to 20?

[CB3UK]

With the new B1G media deal stating they aren't done expanding, one can only help but speculate which schools the SEC will add in the next round of expansion. I believe they'd land Oregon and Washington 100% for sure. I personally believe they FINALLY get Notre Dame to commit. It's only taken 100 yrs to do what is total common sense, but it finally happens. I'm not sure who their 4th would be. I'm not sure I care.

For us, priority 1, 2 and 3 has to be the hated Tar Heels of North Carolina. I don't care about the ACC buyout, if this thing goes to 20 teams you're either in or you're out. You figure the money out if you get an invite this time.

The big question remains what other 3 schools do we want? NC State? Duke? Virginia or Virginia Tech? Oklahoma State? Kansas? Arizona? I posted this on the football board because that's what steers all of this and I'm not interested in hearing about how great it would be to have Duke in our conference for basketball. It would, absolutely. I'd be giddy. But if we get UNC, do we need them unless it's a forced package deal? Duke is a private school, I'd imagine NC State would be who we are forced to take in order to get UNC. I'd be OK with that IF we're doing a 4 school expansion. Gives us room to grab 2 more schools. West Virginia makes a lot of sense too. This is all about media markets. I'm sure they don't come close to delivering a big enough one to warrant an invite, but it'd be fun to have them as a perennial rival.

Anyway, just a thread for some discussion. I know we've all done this before but things have changed and so therefore have the parameters of who's available/realistic.

 

[1977 Cat]

With the new B1G media deal stating they aren't done expanding, one can only help but speculate which schools the SEC will add in the next round of expansion. I believe they'd land Oregon and Washington 100% for sure. I personally believe they FINALLY get Notre Dame to commit. It's only taken 100 yrs to do what is total common sense, but it finally happens. I'm not sure who their 4th would be. I'm not sure I care.

For us, priority 1, 2 and 3 has to be the hated Tar Heels of North Carolina. I don't care about the ACC buyout, if this thing goes to 20 teams you're either in or you're out. You figure the money out if you get an invite this time.

The big question remains what other 3 schools do we want? NC State? Duke? Virginia or Virginia Tech? Oklahoma State? Kansas? Arizona? I posted this on the football board because that's what steers all of this and I'm not interested in hearing about how great it would be to have Duke in our conference for basketball. It would, absolutely. I'd be giddy. But if we get UNC, do we need them unless it's a forced package deal? Duke is a private school, I'd imagine NC State would be who we are forced to take in order to get UNC. I'd be OK with that IF we're doing a 4 school expansion. Gives us room to grab 2 more schools. West Virginia makes a lot of sense too. This is all about media markets. I'm sure they don't come close to delivering a big enough one to warrant an invite, but it'd be fun to have them as a perennial rival.

Anyway, just a thread for some discussion. I know we've all done this before but things have changed and so therefore have the parameters of who's available/realistic.

You may be right but those schools don't geographically fit in the SEC. Take schools from the south and be done with it.

 

[Cat_Man_Blue]

You have to go with big time football schools and or schools with time brands. So the SEC will probably go with 4 of these schools UNC, FSU, Clemson, Miami, UVA and VT.

 

[ukwild#41]

Football is already strong enough. I’d go with UNC, Virginia as first 2 then Duke and Clemson if they want 4 more.

 

[cathouse]

I wish we would be one of the Big 10 additions. With the new TV deal, the Big 10 just passed up the SEC on revenue and TV exposure which will eventually lead to more money for recruits, and the recruits will follow the money, eventually.

We would have a better opportunity to make the expanded playoffs in the Big 10 than the SEC.

We are considered an outsider by the powers that be in the SEC and are fighting a losing battle against the cheaters and the good old boy network.

 

[SaltyCat22]

I’d rather go 0-12 as an SEC team than wake up playing B1G teams every Saturday on the B1G network. Our lives would become so boring. Yay, let’s hear a Scoop Lemond pep talk for a game vs. Rutgers, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. So exciting.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

I’d rather go 0-12 as an SEC team than wake up playing B1G teams every Saturday on the B1G network. Our lives would become so boring. Yay, let’s hear a Scoop Lemond pep talk for a game vs. Rutgers, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. So exciting.

Whoa, whoa, whoa… 0-12 sucks bad. I agree Id rather be in the SEC but if you told me UK would go 8-4 in the Big20….Id have to think about it for sure.

 

[straykat]

Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Kansas

 

[mrschwump]

Football is already strong enough. I’d go with UNC, Virginia as first 2 then Duke and Clemson if they want 4 more.

Expansion is football driven....PERIOD.

 

[CB3UK]

You may be right but those schools don't geographically fit in the SEC. Take schools from the south and be done with it.

Virginia and North Carolina aren't geographically in the South you say? I'd sure love to hear this explanation. 😆

 

[cathouse]

I’d rather go 0-12 as an SEC team than wake up playing B1G teams every Saturday on the B1G network. Our lives would become so boring. Yay, let’s hear a Scoop Lemond pep talk for a game vs. Rutgers, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. So exciting.

More boring than losing to Bama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee 35 years in a row?

Stoops and Marrow would disagree.

 

[trueblujr2]

Since we already have Oklahoma in the fold, a case could be made to include OK St. outside of that I can agree on North Carolina and Clemson, but I think Florida State would also be a good fit.

 

[JPFisher]

More boring than losing to Bama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee 35 years in a row?

Stoops and Marrow would disagree.

Not likely they'd jump on your assessment of the situation either. They're busting their asses to get a respectable product on the field. We don't run from the SEC. We aren't Lincoln Riley.

 

[JPFisher]

Clemson, NC, Fla St., Virginia.

Solid mix of programs. Historic greatness in at least one of the two major collegiate sports. Good-sized fan bases. Solid athletics departments (when not allowing students to take fake classes... Looking at you, UNCheat).

Go to Miami (basically anything south of Orlando) and you can't really count that as "South." Oklahoma was questionable at best, and talk to any Texan to see if they consider themselves southern "WE'RE TEXAS!"

Hell with it, bring back GA Tech and Tulane. ROLL IT BACK.

 

[WildcatofNati]

Not Louisville, in any event.

Back to the midmajors with that riff raff, as far as I am concerned.

 

[CB3UK]

I agree that Clemson and Florida State should join. They just make too much sense and belong in the SEC.

 

[cathouse]

Not likely they'd jump on your assessment of the situation either. They're busting their asses to get a respectable product on the field. We don't run from the SEC. We aren't Lincoln Riley.

Never said they would.
Stoops and Marrow fear no one. Not even John Calipari.

The point I was making is that Stoops has spent ten years grinding to get UK to the upper echelon of the SEC and we are still unable to compete (up until now, anyway) with Bama and Georgia due to the gap in talent and depth.

With NIL and the rogue programs in the SEC, we will also fall way behind Tenn, Oklahoma, Texas, T&AM, Auburn, South Carolina, Arkansas, as far as talent and depth because of money being spent on recruits.

Throw in the SEC bias against UK in football, and preferring some other schools at the top of the conference, Stoops is fighting an even steeper climb than he has for the first 10 years going forward.

With the $7B contract and exposure to all networks other than ESPN, Big 10 schools have an excellent opportunity to move ahead of the SEC in FB in the near future, and UK would have a better opportunity to compete in Big 10 for a spot in the playoffs than we ever will in the SEC IMO.

I feel certain there will be Big 10 teams coming for Stoops in the very near future, and with everything that has transpired recently at UK with NIL, Cal's duma$$ comments, top players suspended because of AD's personal conviction concerning alcohol, etc., etc., I could see Stoops and Marrow saying goodbye if the right school came knocking.

JMO.

 

[Freetaxreturn]

I don’t give a sh!t who they put in that weak ass conference 🍺

 

[vhcat70]

tOSU/MI/PSU/NC

 

[pappy52]

imo.....here are the schools they will look real hard at....1 CLEMSON, 2 FLORIDA STATE, 3 NC STATE, AND 4 VA TECH. BUT THAT IS THE 4 SCHOOLS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE SEC THE MOST. and im talking football wise and tv money wise.

 

[Deli owl]

Clemson
UNC
Va Texh
Miami or FL. St.
Although I would like to add basketball schools for my own greedy purposes but they won’t.

 

[SECCountry75]

With the new B1G media deal stating they aren't done expanding, one can only help but speculate which schools the SEC will add in the next round of expansion. I believe they'd land Oregon and Washington 100% for sure. I personally believe they FINALLY get Notre Dame to commit. It's only taken 100 yrs to do what is total common sense, but it finally happens. I'm not sure who their 4th would be. I'm not sure I care.

For us, priority 1, 2 and 3 has to be the hated Tar Heels of North Carolina. I don't care about the ACC buyout, if this thing goes to 20 teams you're either in or you're out. You figure the money out if you get an invite this time.

The big question remains what other 3 schools do we want? NC State? Duke? Virginia or Virginia Tech? Oklahoma State? Kansas? Arizona? I posted this on the football board because that's what steers all of this and I'm not interested in hearing about how great it would be to have Duke in our conference for basketball. It would, absolutely. I'd be giddy. But if we get UNC, do we need them unless it's a forced package deal? Duke is a private school, I'd imagine NC State would be who we are forced to take in order to get UNC. I'd be OK with that IF we're doing a 4 school expansion. Gives us room to grab 2 more schools. West Virginia makes a lot of sense too. This is all about media markets. I'm sure they don't come close to delivering a big enough one to warrant an invite, but it'd be fun to have them as a perennial rival.

Anyway, just a thread for some discussion. I know we've all done this before but things have changed and so therefore have the parameters of who's available/realistic.

If I was Greg Sankey, I would primarily be interested in Notre Dame, Miami, UCF, Baylor, and the University of Houston. Notre Dame, in the Chicago market, might prefer the Big 10, but the SEC's overture needs to be made while Notre Dame is still linked up with the ACC. UCF, in the Orlando and I-4 market, is now the second largest university in the country. UCF just beat UF in a bowl. Baylor is covered well in the nearby Dallas market. Miami and Houston speak for themselves. All of these would bring in huge media markets, and that is the ultimate trick for expansion.

Arguments could be made for schools like North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida State, or Clemson. All four are located in smaller urban areas. As such, they do not sweeten the financial pot as much. The SEC is already the best athletic conference in America. These schools should be begging to get in. Of that list, North Carolina would be preferred because it is a successful athletics department located in an area with rapidly growing population. But large schools in major urban markets would be more attractive financially.

 

[entropy13]

My top four:

1) Notre Dame: If there's some way the SEC can snare them away from what's probably an inevitable move to the Big 10, then it's a no brainer. Big name program with a national fanbase. A lot of posters don't seem to be aware of the fact that Notre Dame was blackballed from being in the Big 10 years ago due to the Big 10 commissioner being anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant. One of Michigan's former football coaches was also ardently against them joining. Geographically, they belong in the Big 10, but hey, USC and UCLA belong in the Pac 12, so why not Notre Dame to the SEC? Good football and decent basketball. Is anyone in the SEC bold enough to make the offer?

2) UNC-CHeat: Another no-brainer. Despite Matt Jones' ignorant take that NC isn't really a southern state, it makes 100% sense geographically. This increases the SEC's media footprint substantially, as NC is a fairly populous and growing state, with two large media markets (Charlotte and the Research Triangle). Adding this school would raise the level of SEC basketball, and add a football program that's also become decent.

3) Virginia Tech: If we're gonna add a school in Virginia, they make the most sense. Despite some folks' take, VT is much more of the "state" school than UVA, at least sports-wise. UVA is kinda viewed as an elitist, snob school by a lot of folks. It's a public Ivy, basically. They've had some recent basketball success but have otherwise basically been an afterthought for much of their history, and their football program is completely mediocre. VT is much more prevalent in the big media markets, including in the Nova suburbs of Washington, DC. Again, this expands the SEC's media footprint, which is really what it's all about these days. Decent basketball, decent football.

4) Duke: Like UNC, they'd raise the level of SEC basketball, and like Notre Dame, they have a national following, at least in basketball. Football is sh!tty, but if we don't get UNC, they'd bring in the NC media markets, and what's not to like about another likely win for UK on the football side?

Alternates:

5) NC State- For much of the same reason as UNC, but it's the "lesser" of the two. No offense to the Wolfpack, who also, like us, hate both UNC and Duke.

6) West Virginia- Doesn't add much in terms of media markets, but they kinda fit culturally/geographically, and have decent football and basketball programs. Might be the easiest of any of the programs listed here to add. Kind of a "meh" addition, but might be necessary to get to an even number of teams. The natural rivalry with UK and annual football game could become the Hillbilly Bowl.

Lastly, let Clempsun and F$U rot with the remains of the ACC. Why add another football powerhouse in Clempsun? Selfishly, that would be yet another program UK would have to hurdle in football. They bring nothing in terms of basketball prominence and zero in terms of media markets. We already have USCjr. in the conference. Much the same holds true for F$U, though their football has been down recently.

 

[mrschwump]

My top four:

1) Notre Dame: If there's some way the SEC can snare them away from what's probably an inevitable move to the Big 10, then it's a no brainer. Big name program with a national fanbase. A lot of posters don't seem to be aware of the fact that Notre Dame was blackballed from being in the Big 10 years ago due to the Big 10 commissioner being anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant. One of Michigan's former football coaches was also ardently against them joining. Geographically, they belong in the Big 10, but hey, USC and UCLA belong in the Pac 12, so why not Notre Dame to the SEC? Good football and decent basketball. Is anyone in the SEC bold enough to make the offer?

2) UNC-CHeat: Another no-brainer. Despite Matt Jones' ignorant take that NC isn't really a southern state, it makes 100% sense geographically. This increases the SEC's media footprint substantially, as NC is a fairly populous and growing state, with two large media markets (Charlotte and the Research Triangle). Adding this school would raise the level of SEC basketball, and add a football program that's also become decent.

3) Virginia Tech: If we're gonna add a school in Virginia, they make the most sense. Despite some folks' take, VT is much more of the "state" school than UVA, at least sports-wise. UVA is kinda viewed as an elitist, snob school by a lot of folks. It's a public Ivy, basically. They've had some recent basketball success but have otherwise basically been an afterthought for much of their history, and their football program is completely mediocre. VT is much more prevalent in the big media markets, including in the Nova suburbs of Washington, DC. Again, this expands the SEC's media footprint, which is really what it's all about these days. Decent basketball, decent football.

4) Duke: Like UNC, they'd raise the level of SEC basketball, and like Notre Dame, they have a national following, at least in basketball. Football is sh!tty, but if we don't get UNC, they'd bring in the NC media markets, and what's not to like about another likely win for UK on the football side?

Alternates:

5) NC State- For much of the same reason as UNC, but it's the "lesser" of the two. No offense to the Wolfpack, who also, like us, hate both UNC and Duke.

6) West Virginia- Doesn't add much in terms of media markets, but they kinda fit culturally/geographically, and have decent football and basketball programs. Might be the easiest of any of the programs listed here to add. Kind of a "meh" addition, but might be necessary to get to an even number of teams. The natural rivalry with UK and annual football game could become the Hillbilly Bowl.

Lastly, let Clempsun and F$U rot with the remains of the ACC. Why add another football powerhouse in Clempsun? Selfishly, that would be yet another program UK would have to hurdle in football. They bring nothing in terms of basketball prominence and zero in terms of media markets. We already have USCjr. in the conference. Much the same holds true for F$U, though their football has been down recently.

Once again, this is football driven.

 

[Kats meow]

NC State instead of Holes. They are a much stronger football program. Holes are fair weather football fans.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Miami, FSU, GT, don't care who the 4th is, keep the Big10 out of the areas with the best athletes.

 

[USMC Cat]

Clemson, WVa, VaTech, Houston are my top 4.

 

[Tedington68]

You may be right but those schools don't geographically fit in the SEC. Take schools from the south and be done with it.

You do realize it's been almost 40 years since geography even remotely played a role in conference affiliation dont you? The days of regional conferences have long gone, not sure what makes people still bring it up unless it's just a dislike of change

 

[maysvilleky]

NC, VA, Clem, FSU

Adds FB and BB

 

[Mulder14]

It’s about media markets too. Cities and states the sec aren’t in.

 

[CB3UK]

That's why North Carolina and Virginia as states are the logical next step

 

[rrdd2021]

It’s about media markets too. Cities and states the sec aren’t in.

This is exactly right. The Big Ten is going after the TV sets right now. Take a trip through the massive amount of big cities their teams are in right now and it has to be troubling for the other conferences - NYC, Chicago, LA, Philly and on and on. I'm travelling around different boards and many are only focusing on adding schools based on their current strength of their programs. That's all well and good but TV sets and national exposure is as big or even bigger.

I picked this up online today, Let this sink in:

Annual national media revenue, per reports of deals:
NFL: $10B per year
EPL: $4.2B per year
NBA: $2.6B per year
MLB: $1.96B per year
BIG TEN: $1.07B per year
NHL: $625M per year
SEC: $588M per year

This conference absolutely dwarfs SEC money going forward and are possibly close to adding Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. And their no 1 choice is adding ND who they are in constant discussion with. THE SEC NEEDS TO KICK IT INTO GEAR NOW. The SEC use to pay out the most - not anymore

 

[sefleming]

Unc******
Clemson
Florida state
VT

 

[U Go UK]

Clemson
Florida State
Oklahoma State
Virginia

 

[white10]

1 Clemson
2 Florida State
3 North Carolina
4a Duke

4bVirginia Tech
4c Miami

 

[warrior_SW]

1. North Carolina
2. UVA
3. Clemson
4. Florida State


I think the fourth slot is where it gets interesting to me. I’m biased when it comes to Clemson, most would have them below FSU.

UNC + UVA are new markets, and you’re maybe the premier or second best basketball conference with us, unc, uva, and then whoever else is hot between Arkansas/auburn/UF/UT. It doesn’t drive realignment the way football does, but the biggest prizes are off the table in football anyway. Everything I’ve read says uva is the better add than VT for ratings/fanbase size too.

I go fsu because of the brand for number four but I think there are interesting possibilities there. Duke cements basketball and gives you the biggest ratings every year with Duke-UNC, and us against each of those two. That’s not insignificant. I don’t see VT with much value after adding uva, fsu has them beat. Same for NCST.

Insane spitballing, I wonder if we could go outside the box with 3/4 and find Colorado and a Big XII partner (maybe you get Kansas to commit to a total football overhaul with the new $$$?) At 20, you could do 4 5-team pods and one would be TX/OU/KU/CU/aTM. Doubt those teams add the value to be worth it, but it’s intriguing to me. And let’s be real, travel and time zones don’t matter anymore.

 

[southindycat]

UNC, NC St, Clemson, FSU

 

[entropy13]

Once again, this is football driven.

Don't completely disagree, but it's football AND media market driven. Your response lacked detail, but I'm assuming your main quibble was with my inclusion of Duke, and maybe to a lesser extent UNC. Either or both of those schools would be a bit of an exception due to the stature of their roundball programs. The SEC could absolutely extract more media rights dollars via basketball with those schools in the picture and the media markets they bring in.

 

[Larry00]

Just completely spitballing here, but taking into consideration some of the prevailing topics…football driven, tv marketing, geography, etc…I’ll throw these 4 out…

UNC and Miami out of the ACC, and Cincinnati and Houston out of the American.

UNC gives you the #24 national tv market, along with a steady football program, and a elite basketball program.

Miami gives you the #18 national tv market, along with football history, and a decent year-to-year basketball program.

Houston gives you the #8 national tv market, along with a bunch of recent football hotness, and a basketball program with both history and present day success.

Cincinnati gives you the #36 national tv market, and like Houston, a lot of recent football hotness, along with a basketball history that has sustained thru several conferences.

 

[TheBlueCat]

Notre Dame, UNC, Duke, VA Tech