🏈 Two weeks removed from the 2013 season, and the expansion talk rears its head again: ACC getting ra

[TerryP]

Big 10 and SEC Race to Add ACC Schools

18 Jan, 2013
Multiple sources within the Big 10 contend the University of Virginia is set to receive an invitation to join the conference early next week. UVA is expected to ratify the move from the ACC to the Big 10 shortly after receiving the invitation.
UVA would become the 15th member of the Big 10.

None of the Big 10 sources would divulge the identity of the Big 10’s target for #16 but they did confirm that Georgia Tech and UNC are the leading candidates.

Media contacts working close to Georgia Tech believe the Yellow Jackets are the Big 10’s choice for #16 while several sources within the Big 10 believe the conference would prefer UNC over GT.

Sources close to the SEC allege UNC is also engaged in serious discussions to join the SEC along with Duke.

The same sources indicate that the SEC is prepared to be the catalyst of the next round of conference realignment and move quickly to secure either UNC and Duke or Virginia Tech and NC State.

Sources at WVU say the Big 12 is set to discuss expansion at the end of the month and it is likely they will invite as many as 6 ACC teams after the Big 10 and SEC move.

So what does this mean?

If the Big 10 and SEC sources are correct we can assume UNC is highly prized commodity – at least a big enough prize to force the SEC to break their pattern of benign poaching and make a preemptive move on UNC before the Big 10 has a chance to snatch up the Tar Heels.

As for the Big 10 my sources tell me on paper UNC looks like a perfect fit but Georgia Tech has enormous support from both Illinois and Purdue. So much support that Delany has been forced to rethink his choice of UNC.

The Big 12 has previously agreed to add FSU and either Miami or Clemson (it’s different depending on who you talk to at WVU or in the Big 12). My sources at WVU explain that Miami is the more valuable choice due to its larger television market and fertile recruiting grounds but they are quick to explain Clemson is a close second.

What’s clear is that the Big 12 will have the opportunity to add 6 quality schools that will drastically improve their footprint and increase their available television inventory.

If the Big 12 is lucky and the Big 10 and SEC hit 16 and hold the conference could see FSU, Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech and NC State as members.

The folks at WVU are giddy at the prospect of being in the same division as old friends FSU, Clemson, Miami and our best “frenemy” Virginia Tech.

The worst scenario for the Big 12 is still an improvement. At the very least Bowlsby will decide to add FSU, Miami and Clemson and he’ll have some options to round out the conference at either 14 or 16 with Louisville, Cincinnati, Pitt, BYU or even UCONN.

Why would ACC schools move before the UMD lawsuit with the ACC is settled? A mass defection of 10 schools would kill the ACC as a viable conference and their may be no one left to pay the exit fee to after realignment is finished.

The other popular opinion is that it won’t matter. They know UMD will pay far less than the $52 million and they’re willing to move on to greener pastures confident that the ACC’s share of playoff money and eventually even the ACC’s TV money will be redistributed to the remaining big 4 and more than make up for whatever exit fee they may be forced to pay.

Keep in mind I don’t have direct knowledge of the discussion. I rely on friends at WVU and contacts within the ACC, Big 10 and SEC for this information and it can change quickly.

Yardbarker West Virginia site...

 

[DustyG]

Ummm...IF true, WOW!

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

I would agree that UNC should be in the SEC, but I question V Tech, Duke would be alright with me but I would rather have Clemson or FSU. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Argo]

If we are going after UNC and Duke, it's primarily for basketball. And it would be a great move.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I would agree that UNC should be in the SEC, but I question V Tech, Duke would be alright with me but I would rather have Clemson or FSU. Just my humble opinion.

Agreed. I always thought Clem or FSU should be in the SEC. Plus it would make the South Carolina/Florida in-state rivalries all that much more interesting. It will be weird to see UNC move .. The SEC isn't really a hotbed of college basketball activity (as compared to the Big East or ACC). I have had several family members attend UNC so I am sort of a de facto fan, and not seeing them in the ACC will be strange! But it would be cool to see the SEC become more powerful in basketball.

With all due respect to GT, I don't see it as a Big Ten school. UNC maybe, but GT is a stretch for me. These superconferences really are around the corner .. It's so weird/cool to see them evolving.

 

[DustyG]

Remember, expansion is all about TV revenue. We already own the Florida and South Carolina TV markets, so there is no reason to add Clemson or FSU. Adding any two of Duke, Va. Tech, NC State, or UNC, gets the SEC into more TV households and makes perfect sense.

Ga. Tech seems to fit the B1G better, academically, than any of the most recently added schools, fwiw.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

assuming two ACC pickups, Mizzou goes to the West. One more East defection would be necessary? Vandy?

 

[Bo]

I would agree that UNC should be in the SEC, but I question V Tech, Duke would be alright with me but I would rather have Clemson or FSU. Just my humble opinion.

I agree with you about Clemson and FSU, but UF and SoCar. would never allow that to happen.

 

[MunchyOs]

I would love to have Duke and UNC come in as a package deal. I have always enjoyed the Duke-UNC basketball rivalry, so to have that in the SEC would make it even better.

 

[DustyG]

assuming two ACC pickups, Mizzou goes to the West. One more East defection would be necessary? Vandy?

Your math is wrong. We would only need to move one team from East to West if the two new teams both went to the East.

 

[mhardiman]

I hate the idea of Duke; an expansion scenario without VT sounds like a waste, although this does come from a person that doesn't give a rip about basketball.

Your math is wrong. We would only need to move one team from East to West if the two new teams both went to the East.

As for East / West divisions; that will be thrown out the window. There will be Four Divisions, because that will make the scheduling much easier (possibly easier than the previous two divisions with six teams). Schedules would probably look like this; 3 Division games + 3 rotating home and home from the other divisions and 1 or 2 permanent rivalries = 7 or 8 conference games. There would have to be a rules change about a conference semi-final, but since it would be to the interest of the other conferences I think that would be an easy one to get approval.<o></o>

 

[bamaraider]

SUPER CONFERENCES!! :lol: