(03-20-2020 08:11 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  UNC isn’t a prize. They are a good academic program that’s never accomplished anything in football and located in a state that is over saturated with P5 football. Honestly, neither the SEC nor the Big Ten need them.

The expansion prizes are ND, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida St, and Clemson. Anyone else from the ACC or Big 12 is filler.

You're thinking like a football fan and not an academic president or an athletic director. You're also forgetting about a certain sport called men's basketball which does make a ton of money, not as much as football but still a lot of money. The Big Ten hasn't won a national championship since 2002 if you count Maryland and 2000 if you don't. I'll be humiliated if the Pathetic 12 or a mid major wins one before the Big Ten does. I'd be embarrassed if someone from the Big 12 not named Kansas or someone from the SEC not named Kentucky or Florida does. If Clemson was mediocre in football they'd be irrelevant. If they had 20 years of Illinois level football, people out west wouldn't even know what state Clemson was in. Don't get me wrong, I don't see it happening with Dabo Swinney there. But when it comes to conference expansion, you can't just have one criteria unless you want another Nebraska.

If Jim Delany were still commissioner when the ACC's GOR expired and there was any interest in poaching ACC schools, I guarantee UNC would be called before Clemson. With Kevin Warren (or his successor), I'm not as sure but there are other qualities that North Carolina has that Clemson doesn't. Also, don't forget the SEC will also want Clemson and I'd guess Clemson would choose the SEC over the Big Ten if given the choice.

I'd imagine every ACC school that wants to jump ship come 2036 will likely choose the best offer on the table financially but if close will choose the conference that it fits better in academically and culturally and I think Captain Bearcat's list is pretty accurate as to which schools would go where.

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In the end: Syracuse, Virginia, Duke, and UNC go to the Big 10. Clemson, FSU, NC State, and Virginia Tech to the SEC.
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I think NC State wouldn't mind splitting from Carolina/Duke. They seem to be a third wheel in the ACC and moving to the SEC would allow them to establish their own identity like Texas A&M is now. Who knows, maybe they can compete for men's basketball championships.