subterraneanjack

The SEC will only expand if they can get Texas, and if they can get Texas the SEC will definitely expand.

I think this is the most logical proposal because none of the current teams would have to change divisions.

East:
Clemson
FSU

West:
Texas
Texas A&M

This is what I see evolving over the next 4-5 weeks--

• Notre Dame will turn down the Big 10's invitation to join the conference for the second time in 20 years
• Notre Dame will remain independent
• The Big 10 will expand to 16 teams, including Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Rutgers, and two of the following: Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville, and West Virginia.
• Nebraska and Missouri are the top two remaining targets, but Nebraska would have to make a backroom deal with Texas, because Nebraska will not leave the Big 12 conference if Texas doesn't also leave. If Nebraska doesn't join the Big 10, then I expect Connecticut and Missouri to be invited.
• The Big East conference will be dissolved.
• The SEC will expand from 12 to 14 to 16 teams during a multi-year transition.
• Texas and Texas A&M will join the SEC and be put in the Western Division. This will be the first change in the SEC make-up announced.
• The SEC will expand to 16 teams, but the remaining two teams will have to make their case over the next 13 months.
• Those teams to be considered for invitation into the SEC will be two among the following: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Miami, FSU, Clemson, South Florida, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, West Virginia, Memphis, North Carolina, Duke, Baylor, Houston, and Texas Tech.
• I think strong consideration will be given to a) Oklahoma and Nebraska and b) Miami and FSU, however, I think neither scenario will be the final decision. Scenario A would require two of the following to move to the SEC Eastern Division: Auburn, Alabama, Miss State, and Ole Miss. I cannot see Auburn and Alabama move to the East and only playing the new Western Division teams occasionally. I cannot see one team from Alabama and one team from Mississippi moving to the Eastern Division while one team from Alabama and one team from Mississippi remain in the Western Division. Adding Miami and FSU presents both pros and cons. The SEC covets owning the state of Florida, but Vanderbilt made more money in 2009 than either Miami or FSU. I think that is a strong indicator that neither of these teams would flourish in the SEC, at least not immediately.
• I think Clemson will be one of the teams joining the SEC East. There is a natural rivalry with South Carolina, and Clemson already plays Georgia and Auburn frequently. I think it is a natural fit, though not as sexy as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Miami, or FSU.
• The final slot will be very hotly debated. If you don't take a pair of rivals such as Oklahoma/Nebraska, Miami/FSU, North Carolina/Duke, Virginia/Virginia Tech, then the state legislatures are not likely to approve the change. So, for that reason, I think the final team will South Florida, Georgia Tech, Louisville, or possibly Virginia Tech.
• I think South Florida is an intriguing choice. One of the main factors in expansion is increasing the TV market. The Tampa market is one of the fastest growing markets and South Florida has one of the largest student populations in the country. The football team is already decent and the basketball team has been playing in the Big East.
• Georgia Tech used to be in the SEC and departed, and they will not be near the top of the list of invitees, however, the rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech is one of the established rivalries in college football. It also makes geographical sense. Adding the Atlanta market (however I doubt Ga Tech has more fans in Atlanta than Georgia), is also a plus.
• Louisville is a natural rival with Kentucky and makes similar sense as Georgia Tech-Georgia does. However, the Louisville football and basketball programs have not shown much consistency lately.
• Virginia Tech is the best football program among the four, they only joined the ACC in the past few years, and the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry is not as established as other intra-state rivalries.
• I think if the SEC adds a heavyweight like Texas in the West, then they need to follow suit in the East. My vote goes for Virginia Tech.
• Obviously, this will cause a change in the ACC. While neither Clemson or Virginia Tech are ACC basketball powers, it will change the landscape of football in the ACC. Most likely, the Big East teams not invited to join the Big 10 and SEC will be absorbed by the ACC-- West Virginia and Louisville being the most likely choices, with Cincinnati and Connecticut or both also being considerations.
• The ACC remains a basketball powerhouse conference, possibly adding some of the non-football playing schools remaining from the Big East such as St. John's, Providence, Villanova, Seton Hall, Marquette, etc.
• The Big 12 conference will dissolve with the departure of Texas, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Missouri.
• The PAC 10 conference will expand to 12 teams, adding BYU and Utah.
• The survivors of the Big 12 and the Mountain West conferences will combine to create a new 12-team BCS conference including Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Boise State, UNLV, and Air Force.
• The WAC will lose Boise State and Louisiana Tech and will gain Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Rice, and Wyoming.
• C-USA will lose Tulane and gain Louisiana Tech, Cincinnati, South Florida, Troy. Louisville is also a possibility.
• The Sun Belt will lose Troy and gain Tulane.

Richardson was 100% Bama before the season started. After 5 games, Bama has 4 RBs with at least 2 years of eligibility left that are all playing well (actually, the OL is REALLY playing well).

If Richardson goes to Bama, he is probably 5th string for 2 years. A RB like Richardson wants PT sooner than that. He can't be more than 50-60% Bama now. Unfortunately, LSU has a stockpile of RBs just like Bama. I think Richardson ends up at Florida.

Crowton won't leave for a 2nd rate team. He will hang around until he gets an offer from an SEC school or some apple job like Jimbo Fisher got where he will soon be the head coach. If LSU wins another title, it will happen sooner rather than later, but I expect he will be on staff for a while so ADs can see how he handle the current LSU QB situation.

Never underestimate the depth of delusion of a Bama fan.