If the SEC were to add four more teams, who would you want to see join the league?

[Backwards K]

I'd rather kick at least five out: Missouri, Texas, A&M, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Too many teams takes away the feel of it being a conference. Hard to work up a good hate on a team you only play every 6 years or so. Plus, w/o divisions, picking the teams for the SECCG becomes more dependent on the easier schedules.

 

[lukeneyland]

My top four:

Clemson
Virginia Tech
Memphis
WVU

Other interesting options: Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State

*I used to live in Memphis and like watching them beat Ole Miss on occasion

We would never allow it. It makes zero sense to give 3 regional rivals the prestige of the SEC. Clemson is big enough already that it’s plausible

 

[zeppelin128]

There were some rumors about aTm joining the B1G. The Big 10 would love it and aTm could runaway from Texas again bc they are disgruntled that we added them.

I'll help them pack.

 

[Vols919]

I really can't think of a deader football atmosphere on game day than Virginia & UNC. Watch any B1G team play at Maryland, that's what we'd be getting two clones of.

 

[MajinBooCarter]

North carolina,
Georgia tech,
Louisville,
West virginia

 

[volmanNC]

Slippery Rock
Ferris State
Shippensburg University
East Tenn State (ETSU)

 

[Peradox1K]

My top four:

North Carolina
Clemson
Florida State
Ga. Tech.

Nice list, but no one. Honestly, we gotta get rid of some of our members. Mizzou don't belong.

 

[ArmchairQB]

My 20-team SEC, if we have to have 20 and not 10:

Tennessee - Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Georgia - Georgia, Georgia Tech
Alabama - Auburn, Alabama
Mississippi - Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Louisiana - LSU, Tulane
Florida - Florida, Free Shoes
South Carolina - USCjr, Clemson
North Carolina - UNC, Duke
Virginia - Virginia, Virginia Tech
Kentucky - Kentucky, Louisville

Jettison - Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M

Disclaimer... I don't care at all about TV money.

 

[VAVol85]

I would prefer to kick a few out!

But, if we had to add, I would choose:
Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Florida State

 

[VAVol85]

My 20-team SEC, if we have to have 20 and not 10:

Tennessee - Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Georgia - Georgia, Georgia Tech
Alabama - Auburn, Alabama
Mississippi - Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Louisiana - LSU, Tulane
Florida - Florida, Free Shoes
South Carolina - USCjr, Clemson
North Carolina - UNC, Duke
Virginia - Virginia, Virginia Tech
Kentucky - Kentucky, Louisville

Jettison - Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M

Disclaimer... I don't care at all about TV money.

Any campuses west of the Mississippi River are expendable, starting with Texas and Missouri!

 

[Orangepantsforever]

Sewanee X 4

 

[Visiting Dawg]

VATech vs UVA is a tough choice. VATech is really as bad as they have been in 35 years and not looking better. UVA has money and their audience has money. They are the real demographic of viewers advertisers want to reach. Not VATech fans and viewers. I don't give a crap about VT's culture being a fir for the SEC. It isn't. Mizzou peaked around the time they joined the conference. The SEC East was down across the board and it made Mizzou look like they belonged. aTm fit in very well, I thought. Johnny Manziel came at just the correct time for them.

I have been saying Clemson is redundant because of overlap with USCe, but they have good ratings. I may be wrong. Clemson could work well.
FSU brings nothing to increase a TV deal. UF delivers those same TV viewers as FSU and Miami.

I still say we need 2 of the NC teams if we have to expand. The Tarheels and Duke/NCSt (Duke may have the edge due to basketball will increase the value of any TV deal for the SEC. Duke's CFB is on pare with MSSt

I say Clemson, UVA, and 2 North Carolina schools make perfect sense for the SEC if expansion is forced on us. I really hope expansion cools down and is off the table in the future.

The problem with UVA and NC is neither is going to invest in football like the SEC teams that pay the bills AND their TV ratings are horrible. UNC's average TV viewership was less than 500K. (Yes, of course the viewership would rise in the SEC but it would be due to the audience SEC teams pull, not them adding to the equation) I know the "markets" look nice but ESPN buys based on eyeballs, not the population in a specific market. Iows, if TV markets mattered, Vandy would be a more attractive target for a conference than UT if the SEC dissolved.

Additionally, NC is more like the big 10 in regards to their overall athletic philosophy. They field a lot of Olympic sports that wouldn't have competing partners in the SEC. If you are looking at teams that match the SEC culture, I think you need big stadiums, big TV ratings and big investments into the football program. You don't want teams that will spend a large chunk of their new revenue formula on basketball and ride the SEC revenue gravy train with their football program. I'm really not sure their are 4 more programs out there that fit with the SEC. The 2 no brainers to me that have some national appeal, comparable fan bases and investment in football would be Clemson and FSU.