I'm inclined to think the same thing, it would be two schools and probably no more than two to the Big Ten. Connecticut and the eastern big 12 schools become the logical replacements at that point for the ACC. I could see ESPN, keeping the revenue roughly flat. But, honestly, who knows?
Hey UNC is a highly rated academic institution. Students-athletes attended fake classes. Have some respect!
Well, they sometimes attend fake classes
The SECN in North Carolina and Virginia alone will pay for the additions of UNC and UVA.
I think UNC leaving would be the death-knell for the ACC. FSU and Clemson have already been very vocal about wanting to jump ship, and at that point, it starts to look a lot like the Big East circa 2011. Depending on how much the TV deal craters, schools like Syracuse and BC would have to think legitimately about re-joining the Big East and forming a football-only regional conference with the likes of UConn and Temple. The wind is already blowing in that direction based on their OOC scheduling recently.
Are schools like Cincy and UCF really worth stealing, though? I think the ACC adding a couple of g5 looking programs like that would be the best way to accelerate the departure of every other program of value (NC State, Miami, GT, VT, maybe Louisville or Pitt). It'd be doing the Big 12 a huge favor, if anything, by taking two of its least valuable properties off its hands just as several of the big boys hit the open market. You probably have a better feel for the TV aspect of it than me, but on the surface the Big 12 in that scenario becomes a far more desirable league.
To me UNC and UVa to the B10 makes way too much sense, together as original flagships in a conference full of nothing but AAU state flagships with strong academics. They also likely have a better chance taking Duke with them there than the SEC. Stick those two in a pod with Maryland, Rutgers and Penn St. Calling this all bluffing to stir the pot until the real action takes place. This is like throwing a rumor out that you want to take the hot blonde to the prom when you really want the brunette.
I doubt UNC to the Big 10. Maybe Virginia and maybe if they want a partner both. As I said elsewhere UNC has been trying to upgrade football for the last 20 years. They haven’t succeeded. Now they are trying with a 73 year old head coach who hasn’t coached college kids in 40 years. And even if he succeeds in making them good it is questionable whether it will be sustainable, especially moving up in class.
It would be ironic, but in many ways, it's the worst possible outcome for us since neither Clemson or FSU have been advocates for us joining the ACC. I do think it's a possibility though.
TB10 is much more open minded to bringing on cohesive yet significant AAU state flagships in lieu of a below the bar football program (see Rutgers/Maryland). They build based on consistency and keeping the integrity of their culture as much as they focus on market share & football. The SEC seems a bit more commercial and on the FB end. Needless to say, I'd think both would want to have presence in the states of NC & Virginia (DC & Charlotte/Triangle) as two states that could go in either direction.
That seems like a smart play by the SEC and B1G. Two 20 team leagues and then do combined SEC/B1G tournaments at the end of the year in Football, basketball and Baseball. I certainly can see that happening.
stephen (and brian) are already at UNC.
I'll take that bet. They are the P2 no matter how you slice it. I'm willing to bet they stab each other in the back to make more money than the other. I can't believe the SEC hasn't already tried to lock the Big Ten out of the South or South-East especially with the Big Ten grabbing the west coast.
Likely partially in bed together, but also have their own agendas. UNC is the crowned jewel of what is left in expansion if the ACC implodes and could see the 2 fighting for it. New, significant turf for either conference, can culturally go in either direction. If UNC does go SEC, doubt NCSt gets anything more than B12. Could see Duke going B10 and just playing UNC in an annual OOC game to keep the rivalry going.
It's more efficient to have a gentleman's agreement about where expansion will or will not take place. That isn't to say that they're not competitors, they just may not see the need to be dumb about it.
Big 10 is at 18. SEC is at 16. I don't see how the SEC has any reason to have any agreement with the Big 10. Whether it stays at 16 or wants to add 2, 4, 6, 8. I'm pretty sure the SEC can do whatever it wants without having to play patty cake with the Big 10.
I can see it being more efficient to say hey we'll take this region you take that region. That way they don't end up in in bidding wars or reading each other. I'm not saying that's what's going on, but I've yet to see the Big Ten and SEC overlap each other or compete for a school.
