Possible Future of Conference Realignment
You've read that correctly.
Let’s go ahead get this out of the way and assume that the ACC will expand to 16 teams. But the talks of them adding UConn and Cincinnati have been, well, let's just say that they seem the clear favorites in joining the ACC over Memphis. Which, in a way, makes sense.
The ACC has 15 members right now. If they want 16, UConn, Cincy, then they must get rid of a couple, if not few, so that way Memphis can be added. Here's my view on how that can happen.
NC State - The SEC wants to be a 16 teams, too. Just like the ACC. They want it bad, if not more than the ACC. But the SEC wants to expand to other states. Why not Memphis? Well, Tennessee and Vandy have the whole state of Tennessee covered, so that's stinks for Memphis. Why not Texas or even Georgia Tech? Maybe Clemson? It's the same thing. The SEC has those states (Texas, Georgia) covered. The likelihood of them adding NC State is not as far fetch as you may think. NC State has, and always will be, known as North Carolina's little brother. Duke and UNC will always be ahead of NC State and we both know Duke and UNC will stay in the ACC. So, adding NC State makes sense for the SEC. A different TV market = more money. Plus, the SEC Network is based in Charlotte, is it not? Makes sense now, right?
Virginia Tech - I can't wait until UT plays VT at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016. I truly feel like this could be a future conference match-up between these two schools. Makes as much sense as adding NC State as well. Adding Virginia Tech makes much more sense than Virginia. The basketball program has been, shall we say, "off" as of lately but the football program stays consistent, year in and year out. If the SEC adds them, then that's another state market.
"That was a lot of SEC talk for this to be an ACC thread." Well, I'm glad you pointed that out. I was getting tired of that, too.
Now the next question would be, does Memphis get in the ACC, NOW?! Well, why not? The ACC would lose two key members if NC State and Virginia Tech accept any invitation into the SEC. That brings the number down to 13. So, three more members to go to reach 16, right? Well, of course.
I know this all seems very far fetched and might seem impossible to some but it's what I feel like what we could be seeing by 2017, grant it, if our football team keeps doing what it's doing and goes to bowl games consistently. So, here's what the shake up would be if every does what I think can happen.
ACC:
Boston College
Cincinnati
Clemson
Connecticut
Duke
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Memphis
Miami
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Syracuse
Virginia
Wake Forest
SEC
Alabama
Auburn
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Missouri
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
NC State
Tennessee
Texas A & M
Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech
(This post was last modified: 10-20-2014 12:33 PM by KendallC.)
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