RMoore1999
Illegitimi Non Carborundum!
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2012
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I very much agree that cultural elements of conference realignment are important, which is why I continue to stress that I don't think that the ACC is going to collapse. That being said, UNC's cultural issues extend just as much (if not more) to the SEC. The T-shirt fan base might like the SEC, but the actual alums are about as wine-and-cheese as you can get for a public school. Don't underestimate that factor, as well (particularly since academically-minded university presidents ultimately make the decisions). UNC might be located in the South, but it's NOT an SEC-type school at all. It's a quintessential ACC school (balance of Southern academics), which is why it's going to be hard to pry schools like UNC and UVA out of there (although money still talks big-time). A school like FSU might not care about the perception of SEC academics, but it's a *massive* turn-off for UVA, UNC and GT. That's what makes the tussle between the Big Ten and SEC for UNC (who I firmly believe is #1 on both of their lists as a target that's not named Notre Dame or Texas) pretty interesting.
What do you think the chances are B1G stays at 14 long term? If slim, and ACC schools don't bite, who realistically fills slot 15 and 16?