SEC Expansion What If - SDS Article

[VolBricks]

I am completely bored and looking for stuff to occupy my time. I know there have already been like 100 threads on this but why not another one. I just read an interesting take on what teams the SEC might add if they were to expand. Now I do not expect the SEC to expand but it is interesting to speculate just like the article does. After reading this my take would be to invite Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. All proud football schools and a lot of history to boot; it would also expand the footprint of the SEC into 2 more states.

SDS Roundtable: If and when the SEC expands again, which 2 schools should it realistically add?

What teams would you like to see added and what is your rationale for adding them?

Edit: After reading some of your replies, what if no state got more than 1 team. That means Vandy, and Ole Miss or Miss St would have to go. Then the SEC could add 2 more states without adding more games. That would mean a shuffling of the teams from east/west. I realize that the SEC has never kicked anyone out that I know of but there is always a first time for everything.

 

[ALLVOL24/7/365]

Duke and North Carolina would be my choice. Big market and helps in Bball. Extra moneies for the TV contracts adding NC into the footprint.

 

[The Original Fade]

No expansion needed. Kick Vandy to a group of 5 conference and pick up Virginia Tech

 

[VolBricks]

No expansion needed. Kick Vandy to a group of 5 conference and pick up Virginia Tech

I could get behind that move.

 

[volmandu]

Bring Clemson in .. put them in west and show them 4 loss seasons every year

 

[Special Ed]

Can't think of any I'd really like to add, but there are a couple I'd like to subtract.

 

[05_never_again]

The most likely schools who would join the SEC are schools who for one reason or another might be looking to leave their current conference. IMO, the only school that truly fits that bill at the moment is West Virginia. Joining the Big 12 was good for them financially, but they are a poor fit in that conference and it likely has hurt their recruiting. If they joined the SEC, they still get the great financial situation combined with a better recruiting fit.

Other names you can throw out (Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Clemson, Florida St) would be good fits geographically but don't really have compelling reasons to leave their current conference, especially Clemson and North Carolina. I could see Oklahoma wanting to leave if Texas threatened to blow up the Big 12 again.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

V Tech and W. Virginia would jump at the chance to join SEC. Can't see both getting invited, at the same time. Not sure any ACC school would want to come to SEC. BB rivalries are long time ones and Clemson is your only FB contender to deal with. You beat them you can win the league. Why would you trade that for the SEC wars. Probably a big 12 team as the other.

 

[The Original Fade]

I could get behind that move.

Vandy brings NOTHING to the SEC TV market, Va Tech brings an untapped ACC geography into the fold.

 

[ptcarter]

Numbers game. The more teams in conference, the harder it is to win it. Leave it alone or make it smaller.

 

[eaglevol]

For the West, I would bring in Houston. They would add a large Texas market to the SEC and be a rival for both Texas A&M and LSU.

For the East, I would go with a former charter member of the SEC and bring back Georgia Tech. They have never really fit into any other conference they have been in.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Any schools that expand the SEC’s footprint are the only ones worth mentioning in a serious conversation. So throw out P5 school that’s already in our footprint with the exception of Texas, which isn’t realistic anyways . Virginia Tech, NC State, OU, Okie State would all be the best fit from a money and culture combination. The true gem would be a UNC and UVA combination accounting for the DC/Baltimore markets and the Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte markets. However, neither one is a good fit culturally, and they often look down at us for being inferior academically because of their want to be “Public Ivy” persona. Personally I think N.C. State would crawl to Birmingham to be a member of the SEC, but there are so many bylaws it would be hard to get them away from UNC.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

Duke and North Carolina would be my choice. Big market and helps in Bball. Extra moneies for the TV contracts adding NC into the footprint.

UNC isn't going anywhere without NC State, both would be good pick ups for Baseball too

 

[RDU VOL#14]

UNC isn't going anywhere without NC State

Yes, but N.C. State would be happy to go somewhere without UNC. They are the red headed stepchild of the Raleigh/Durham area and They hate constantly being in Duke and UNC’s shadow. I’m pretty certain they hate UNC more than they like themselves.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

UVA and VA Tech.

 

[MAD]

Bring this back

 

[Danl]

Bring this back
View attachment 270479

YES!! And expand everyone's SEC schedule to 9 games so that everybody has to play everybody else, including Bama, every year. You only need 3 OOC games given that Vandy is as good a cupcake as any OOC team.

 

[cwbytruckers]

This thread pops up every so often.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Since this is being done purely for $$$$ reasons....

Kick out Vandy and MSU. Replace USC with Clemson.

Add Texas, OU, UNC, and UVA. If UNC or UVA balk, replace them with VA Tech and NC State.

No considerations other than maximizing $$$$ were considered

 

[Jackcrevol]

Ill say it again. GET TAMU & Vandy West back to BG12.

VPI & GATech.

 

[MontyPython]

No expansion needed. Kick Vandy to a group of 5 conference and pick up Virginia Tech

This.

Think about it... Vandy is the red-headed stepchild of the SEC. Basically a southern Ivy League school that demphasizes sports. How is that similar to ANY other SEC school?

Vandy doesn't belong in the SEC.

 

[vols 30]

This.

Think about it... Vandy is the red-headed stepchild of the SEC. Basically a southern Ivy League school that demphasizes sports. How is that similar to ANY other SEC school?

Vandy doesn't belong in the SEC.

It would be great to replace Vandy with VA tech or NC State

 

[VolBricks]

Since this is being done purely for $$$$ reasons....

Kick out Vandy and MSU. Replace USC with Clemson.

Add Texas, OU, UNC, and UVA. If UNC or UVA balk, replace them with VA Tech and NC State.

No considerations other than maximizing $$$$ were considered

Wow, that would be an outstanding conference.

 

[sjt18]

There are some folks who somehow think other conferences and schools do not have meaningful, historical ties and rivalries. In the past, the UNC v NC State rivalry was bigger than the UNC v Duke rivalry. There was once a tournament between WFU, UNC, Duke, and NCSU in basketball to determine the "state champion". You would be just as likely to get Auburn to leave the SEC as to get any of those to leave the ACC. WFU would currently have the most reason to leave... but they don't help the SEC.

You will never get OU or OSU. Your only shot would be to take both and that would defeat the purpose of taking either- namely to get into the OKC media market. If you are really "looking" and it has to be a current Power 5 program then you have to go after those who have proven they'll move. Va Tech is one. WVU is another. Pitt doesn't fit geographically but they aren't a natural in the ACC either.

There are group of 5 teams that could work. Houston is a big school with a good history in athletics. Cincy could work but UK wouldn't go for it.

If you have to get someone from NC... then your realistic option is App State and accept that it will take years for them to catch up in terms of fan following, other sports, and facilities. They are the best football program in NC.

 

[sjt18]

IF I were king.....

I would reduce the top tier of college football to 64 teams divided into 4 conferences of 16 teams. Each of those conferences would be divided into 4 divisions of 4 teams or two divisions of 8 teams.

Each conference would have a one or two round playoff to determine its champion. Those champions would go on to play a two round playoff for the NC.