Thanks for the interesting replies, and I did not anticipate the conversation turning to be primarily about NC State. Below is my brief rationale for the initial thought that incorporates feedback from the posts:
- Using the EADA gross revenue data from the last three available seasons (2017, 18, 19), the average yearly revenue of UNC is $98,252,715, and UVA is $102,434,403. Together, that is basically a $100,000,000 per school addition to the SEC. On the other hand, Auburn is a whopping average of $149,163,064, Mississippi State is $92,279,666, and Vandy is $81,540,112. Together, that is basically a $108 million per school addition to the ACC. In a per school swap based purely on $$$, the ACC wins in this scenario.
- Using these same averages among all schools, the SEC average revenue per school is about $132 million per year. The ACC average revenue per school is about $105 million, and that is with throwing in Notre Dame as a full member for argument's sake. With this swap, the SEC actually becomes $132.7 million per year, and the ACC becomes $106 million per year. So, that is basically a wash, but it is important to note that no one loses per school revenue averages in this scenario.
- In terms of footprint, this arrangement adds completely new states/markets for both conferences and retains each in-state rival as an SEC-ACC matchup. As JR mentioned, this is an ESPN dream. For those who care about such things, this also puts all the state "flagships" into the same conference, although Auburn really seems to operate more like a flagship in Alabama like TAMU does in Texas. In any case, you get the idea. The SEC wins by having only one school per state and adding two new states, and the ACC wins by adding three new states without losing any (plus reducing the crowd in the state of NC).
- Academically, the argument will be in the eye of the beholder. The biggest complaint would be adding Mississippi State, but they are not too dissimilar from Louisville in broad metrics. Both are fine schools, especially when viewed through a broad lens of ranking all universities in America. The ACC would be at a crossroads of what they want to become as an athletic conference. Sticking with the cream of the cream is fine if that is the chosen path, but that has also partially contributed to the PAC's mess when potentially adding Texas Tech and/or Oklahoma State seemed to wreck the idea of adding Texas and Oklahoma several years back. Again, eye of the beholder, so I will not go further down this path.
- Athletically, all of these teams have ready-made rivals in the opposite conference in addition to in-state rivals. You can succeed in all sports in both the SEC and ACC, and there is plenty of room to add the most significant lost conference rivals as non-conference foes every few years. Again, wash here on a per school basis.
- Perhaps most significantly is what is does for the major prize... bridging to Texas. I don't want to get in the weeds here, but Texas is becoming more and more significant, wealthy, and populated year after year. The SEC does not need geography at this point; they need roster spots to add tag-along schools if needed. The ACC has a geography issue right now, but much of that is alleviated by building the bridge through Alabama and Mississippi to Texas' doorstep. Neither move assures that a Texas school or "the" Texas school would eventually join either conference, but it certainly doesn't hurt. Yes, this arrangement takes away a roster spot for the ACC, but the realistic scenario is that the ACC would balloon to near 20 members if they broach the Big 12 and would resemble more of a two-division cooperative (southeastern and mid-Atlantic).
In all, it feels like a swap where both sides are excited about some aspects and grudgingly accept others, but crunching the numbers shows it is a good course for growth potential for both parties. Emotions would get in the way here because it is dealing with deeply rooted members in both conferences. Again, just fodder for thought, and I look forward to NC State joining the SEC soon based on the direction of this thread's conversation