As both conferences have private Universities, I have used the overall National Rankings from US News and have also added each conference’s affiliate school. The ACC is very top heavy; but, the B1G is better in the middle and end and I really mean the end with Louisville. Overall, the ACC’s average ranking is 55 and the B1G’s average ranking is 54. UConn as noted is #57 (Cincinnati is #135 while S Florida is #170 FYI)
ACC (15) - Duke #7, Notre Dame #18, Virginia #23, Wake Forest #23, UNC #30, BC #31, Georgia Tech #36, Miami #47, Clemson #62, Pittsburgh #62, Syracuse #62, Virginia Tech #69, Florida St #91, NC State #101, Louisville #161
B1G (15) - John Hopkins #12, Northwestern #12, Michigan #28, Penn St #37, Illinois #41, Wisconsin #41, Ohio St #52, Maryland #62, Purdue #68, Minnesota #69, Rutgers #69, Iowa #73, Michigan St #73, Indiana #75, Nebraska #101
What does this mean? Academically, UConn would be a good add to both, though the B1G is more concerned with AAU status that US News Rankings (several AAU schools fall outside of the top 100). And of course, on field athletic performance and TV screens count for a more.
Some conference stats. Remember, UCONN is ranked #57.
Average school ranking:
ACC: 55 (dragged down by Louisville, #161)
Big 10: 57
Pac 12: 81
SEC: 97
Big 12: 112
AAC: 122 estimate. (Navy and Memphis aren't ranked so I think they would offset each other and I didn't include them.)
Last schools to change conferences:
Maryland 62
Pitt 62
Syracuse 62
Rutgers 69
TCU 82
Colorado 86
Missouri 97
Nebraska 101
Utah 121
Louisville 161
West Virginia 170
Bottom 10 Ranked P5 Schools:
West Virginia 170
Louisville 161
Texas Tech 161
Mississippi 150
Mississippi St. 142
Oklahoma St. 142
Oregon St. 142
Arizona St. 142
Kansas St. 135
LSU 135
Candidates for P5:
UCONN 57
BYU 62
Buffalo 109
Temple 121
Cincinnati 135
San Diego St. 152
Hawaii 158
USF 170
UCF 170
Nevada 181
Houston 190
Memphis Not rated.
Boise St. Not rated as a national university. (Rated #65 regional university in West.)
I think we've already seen that academic rank is meaningless for conference realignment. This list of P5 candidates cannot be taken as valid by numerical ranking. I suspect that lower ranked schools will go before UConn does, if ever, such as the two Florida schools and Cincinnati. They have a commitment to football that our leadership clearly does not.