RE: Speculation is fun, but......
How about this?
The 2019 ACC network plans fall through, leaving several leading ACC schools disgruntled again and looking for new homes. B1G, SEC, and Big 12 make public plays for ACC schools. Behind closed doors, a deal is reached that sees UNC, Duke, UVA, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse to the B1G and Virginia Tech, NC State, Florida St., Clemson...and Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and NEBRASKA to the SEC!
Texas and Oklahoma leadership finally admit that the Big 12 dream is dead and reunite with Nebraska, Missouri, and A&M, along with Kansas to their new SEC home.
The SEC decides that 24 schools is better than 22, to create four 6-school divisions; West Virginia and Pitt round out the new-look conference.
Not to be outdone, the B1G approaches certain PAC schools and Notre Dame about a merger. Hearing (false) reports that Notre Dame has accepted a B1G invite, USC and Stanford commit to the B1G, but UCLA complains about the eastern and northern-heavy B1G lineup. The SEC seizes the opportunity to enter the westward expansion and convinces UCLA leadership that it will have closer cross-division road games and a solid West division lineup.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Notre Dame does commit to the B1G, but only after fierce negotiations through which the Irish gain intra-conference scheduling concessions to allow certain annual matchups, including USC and Stanford and an attractive rotation from among B1G schools on the Eastern Seaboard and in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
SOUTH: Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi St., Arkansas, Vanderbilt
EAST: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky
WEST: Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas A&M
ATLANTIC: Florida St., Clemson, NC State, Virginia Tech, WVU, Pitt
PACIFIC: UCLA, California, Oregon, Arizona St., BYU, Colorado
EAST: Ohio St., Michigan, Michigan St., Indiana, Purdue
WEST: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern
SOUTH: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech
ATLANTIC: Notre Dame, Penn St., Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College
PACIFIC: USC, Stanford, Arizona, Washington, Utah
The 12 schools leftover from the ACC, Big 12 and PAC unite and add certain MWC and AAC schools.
WEST: Washington St., Oregon St., Boise St., San Diego St., UNLV, Colorado St.
NORTH: TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma St., Kansas St., Iowa St.
EAST: Louisville, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, Navy
SOUTH: Miami, UCF, USF, Houston, Memphis, Tulane
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