Like everyone else, I have been reading all I can about Texas, Oklahoma and the SEC since Wednesday. We have seen threads and articles about the possible new SEC alignment, as well as new or renewed rivalries, what would happen to the B12, what would the B1G and ACC do, etc. This morning as I read the thought hit me, what if the SEC isn’t through expanding?
Just like they have been working behind the scenes with Texas & Oklahoma, could they also be working with other schools to get to 18 or even 20? Could they be working with UNC & UVA? Or UNC & Duke to strengthen basketball? Last year when it was thought that the B1G wouldn’t play because of COVID, OSU talked about wanting to play with the SEC for that season. What if those talks have continued behind the scenes? What if Sankey decides, let’s go ahead and finish this expansion by getting to 20, with the best 20 so that we have the best all around college sports conference; football, basketball and baseball?
Before you say that isn’t happening, did you think the SEC would be talking behind the scenes with Texas and Oklahoma before Wednesday?

There is at least one report saying the SEC has reached out to Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Florida State about forming a 20 team league.

(07-24-2021 09:19 AM)OscarWildeCat Wrote:  There is at least one report saying the SEC has reached out to Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Florida State about forming a 20 team league.

Yeah, saw that after I posted. Thank You

I don’t think it’s 100% out of the question that this is the first step in creating a single entity, 28-36 team organization.

SEC I believe is stuck at 16 for the time being.

1. ACC Grant of Rights still out to another decade.
2. B1G can't be raided with the academic consortium.

The pod system would allow for some uneven expansion. The B1G could just take Kansas and not a 16th. PAC could likewise take 3 from Texas and stuff them into a pod.

As JR has alluded to, I think one of the biggest remaining questions actually pertains to Vanderbilt and their fit in this future SEC configuration. I wonder if there might be some backdoor horse trading taking place behind the scenes, for Vanderbilt to find an alternative power conference home that is a better fit for their academically-focused needs and mission, while also opening up a #16 spot for a much more stronger fit moving forward.

The SEC could offer 8 ACC schools and have 3 divisions of 8.

SEC east: UVA, V Tech, UNC, Duke, NC State, Clemson, SCar, FSU
SEC central: UK, UT, Vandy, UGA, GTech, Alabama, Auburn, UF
SEC west: Ole Miss, Miss State, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri

It would basically be 3 eight team leagues under one banner. The big 10 could do the same thing with 10 pac 12 schools. ND could form a good leftover conference.

BC, Syracuse, Pitt, WVU, Cincinnati, Louisville, ND, Miami

You could add few others who might be left out