quote:
Yeah this may be the end of UVA in a major athletic conference. They’re in a league all their own in terms of academic arrogance and attitude (and they have totally earned that)

UVA isn't worth the trouble. Honestly Virginia Tech, not UVA, is the state school in Virginia. You go outside any metro area and anywhere along the I-81 corridor and it's all Virginia Tech. And VT still has a good sized fan base in Richmond, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and DC/Nortnern Virginia. UVA's fan base is largely restricted to DC/Northern Virginia, Richmond and Charlottesville.

Virginia Tech is the state school of Virginia and is a far better cultural fit (emphasis on football, passionate fan base, good game day environment) for the SEC.

UNC and NC State are closer but again UNC, like UVA, is a wine and cheese crowd for football. UNC was nothing after Mack Brown left the first time and they'll be nothing again after Mack Brown leaves the second time. Yes they offer basketball but it's football, not basketball, that is driving the expansion. NC State is again the better cultural fit for the SEC.

If it was me in those SEC meetings I'm supporting FSU, Clemson, NC State and Virginia Tech. You expand the footprint into North Carolina and Virginia while still having a contiguous conference. You also by and large keep the Big Ten out of the heart of SEC territory in any meaningful way. Let the Big Ten take Miami and Georgia Tech, neither of those schools really move the needle and really help them plant a major base in the South.

The way I see it working out. ND and UVA go to the Big Ten. VT, UNC (though I would prefer NC State), Clemson and FSU go to the SEC.

Miami and NC State go to the Big 12.

Pitt, Louisville and GT battle over the two remaining spots in the Big 12. One could end up really getting screwed and having to go down to the American (Or also go the Big East route and then just go Independent for football).

I think Duke, Wake, Syracuse and Boston College all go the UConn route and join the Big East for basketball and go independent for football (or drop it altogether which I think isn't as unlikely as many would think).