As conference expansion conversations continue to heat up, college football experts worldwide have begun discussing the next wave of realignment.
ESPN’s Chris Low was the latest analyst to discuss realignment and mentioned that the SEC may be more interested in adding North Carolina and Virginia than other ACC schools.
“I think there’s a better chance you would see more of an appetite for North Carolina and Virginia in the SEC,” Low said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “There are other factors at play here. New footprints. You get the state of North Carolina, the state of Virginia. Both academically elite schools. You have the basketball factor. You get a little bit of the Charlotte TV market, maybe a little bit of the D.C. market.”
North Carolina and Virginia have been floated as potential teams to move should the first ACC teams bolt. With Florida State and Clemson both in legal disputes with the ACC, the duo of schools have been the main targets discussed in realignment circles.
In addition to North Carolina, Virginia, Clemson, and Florida State, schools like NC State, Virginia Tech, Miami, Louisville, and Pittsburgh have also experienced some realignment rumbles.
While the last calendar year of conference realignment has seen a multitude of teams depart for greener pastures, the ACC’s uncertain future will likely take a bit longer to mature. Should the SEC add North Carolina and Virginia, Brett Yormark and the Big 12 would have an incredible opportunity to strengthen the league and expand to 20 teams with some combination of Miami, Clemson, Florida State, NC State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Pittsburgh.
