![]() ![]() The latest conference realignment news of OU and Texas’ intent to join the SEC are just the beginning of a power move by the league. There are hefty media rights contracts, academic considerations, the idea of sharing the state with another SEC team, regional rivalries that stretch back decades or even a century, and the disruption of college football’s balance of power. There are plenty of arguments against this move by the Seminoles and the Tigers. If the move goes through any time soon, expect Florida State and Clemson to be packing their bags for the conference, too. Oklahoma and Texas confirmed recently what most college football fans knew already - that the Sooners and Longhorns formally intend to petition the SEC for membership by 2025 at the latest. What this all means is that North Carolina and Virginia are massively under-appreciated assets.With the SEC expanding in another conference realignment, it’s foolish to think it’s going to stop there. Of course, their is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in everyone’s favorite team, Notre Dame… Heck, I would envision the Big 12 going big-game hunting in trying to acquire the Four Corner universities from the Pac-12 before this. The next wave of realignment has everything to do with San Diego State and the Pac-12. Ultimately, I don’t see this happening for a good minute. While you are not increasing market share with their additions, they would certainly strengthen the league’s reach in its two acquired territories. You are getting strong athletics and academics with those two schools. Truth be told, if the Big Ten or SEC were to add North Carolina and Virginia, you would have to think North Carolina State and Virginia Tech would be coming as well. Should either of them walk, that league is dead, more dead than a Pac-12 without USC and UCLA because at least that league still has two traditional powers in major public schools with Oregon and Washington. Of course, the ACC will try to do everything in its power to keep them. You are looking at two prestigious public universities in the south that two power leagues would love to add. It is why UNC and UVA are so captivating. Geographically, those two schools are too far away to be in any consideration to join the Midwest-based Big Ten. While the Seminoles and Tigers would be easy additions to the SEC footprint, keep in mind the league wouldn’t be picking up all that much more market share, as Florida and South Carolina are already vibrant parts of the conference. Who in the hell saw that coming? Regardless, I have always thought the media markets in North Carolina and Virginia were too enticing to be overlooked by what are currently better college football programs in Clemson and Florida State. Well, lo and behold, Oklahoma and Texas are joining the SEC in 2024, the same year that shockingly, USC and UCLA are joining the Big Ten. Entitlement is not how you win games in the SEC. Texas has a bit of a wine-and-cheese feel to it. I had a feeling those two schools would have the easiest time assimilating into the league like Texas A&M has done since its arrival last decade. When the SEC was still at 14 teams, the two schools I thought made the most sense to acquire would be Oklahoma and North Carolina State. North Carolina, Virginia seen as ACC expansion possibilities for Big Ten or SEC Once again, conference realignment is not always about what seems to be the most obvious thing. I do not think you can add one without adding the other… Where North Carolina and Virginia are located, they would be contiguous additions to either league should the Big Ten or SEC come calling. It is all about geography and market share. Although neither program has won a national title before on the football field, there is way more than meets the eye with the Heels and the Hoos than shooting hoops, turning left and academics. ![]() While Clemson, Florida State and even Miami might make more sense in terms of conference expansion on the college football side of things, the two ACC schools leagues like the Big Ten and SEC might covet more than any are … North Carolina and Virginia?!ĮSPN’s Pete Thamel reported earlier in the week that UNC and UVA will be “coveted” by both leagues in potentially the next wave of realignment. The two ACC schools the Big Ten and SEC might want the most are North Carolina and Virginia. ![]()
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