Megadrone-

Let's say it's 1991 and the Eastern League sits at:

North: BC, Syracuse, Rutgers, Temple, Pitt, Penn St
South: WVU, VT, ECU, South Carolina, Florida St, Miami

The ACC is down to 7 after Clemson bolts to the SEC:

Maryland, UVA, UNC, NC St, Duke, WF, GT

The ACC is left in a tight spot. Back then I don't think anyone was brave enou to try 14 or 16. The ACC certainly has some schools in their camp that are more attractive than some of the Eatern League schools but there's no room to add them. Maybe we would have seen a bigger conference sooner. Maybe there is a merger of sorts where the best Eastern League withdraw and grab some ACC schools and reform.