Not "partner" in the sense of schools working in tandem, but more as brands and/or geographically-connected schools brought in as pairs.
Previous examples:
Texas + Oklahoma --> SEC
USC + UCLA --> B1G
Oregon + Washington --> B1G
I'm guessing we'll see the actual moves themselves completed by the summer of 2027 or '28:
ACC to B1G: UM+ND and Cal+Stanford
ACC to SEC: UVA+VT and UNC+NCSU and Clemson+fsu and Duke+GT
ACC to XII en masse: Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC, SMU???
SOL: Wake
There;s going to be movement, but not seeing some of these moves: The SEC has added only large, land-grant state schools over the last 14 years. Texas is the only addition that was surprising, and only surprising because A&M didn't want them, which was thought to be a deal-breaker. The B1G has only added one private school over their expansion- USC, which is a great academic institution in addition to fielding good (let's be honest, they haven't been great in 30 years in football and are usually slightly above average in men's basketball). The rest were also land-grant state institutions who are mostly known for very good academics (not seeing that with Maryland or Rutgers, or even Oregon, but those may well be my biases).
With that in mind, Cal and Stanford are the obvious academic prizes. They aren't going to the SEC-neither party wants the other. The West Coast B1G schools will certainly want them, but will the west coast schools have enough influence to get everyone else to include them? I am not buying the argument that Fox Sports controls everything with expansion, if the B1G wants Cal and Stanford bad enough Fox will cave, there are just too many other alternatives for the B1G for television markets.
FSU and Clemson are the more accomplished athletic programs if we're being honest, but neither (FSU in particular) distinguished themselves with these lawsuits. I will assume that both the B1G and SEC are smarter than the ACC and have venue clauses in their agreements to prevent the ridiculous litigation in 3 states that we saw. Still, litigious partners are not reliable partners, and I can see how each school created image issues for themselves. I seriously doubt any other conference views either school as a bad-*** because of their litigation tactics like so many message board fans seem to think.
For ND- any conference in the US will take them if they want to go- but is there enough incentive with the new 14 or 16 team playoff for them to even consider going to a conference? Not seeing it.
UNC can write their ticket if they want out, both the B1G and SEC will gladly take them. NC State is just not that attractive, though- not goo enough on the field/court and solid but not spectacular academically.
I am not seeing this allure of UVA, but the conferences do, so they can also go if they want, to whichever conference they select IMO.
Va Tech is different- they are well thought of by us, but not a prize for the conferences. Sucks to be them.
Ga Tech is a tough add- UGA controls Georgia even when Tech is good, and Tech is just in a tough market where they don't add enough to get eyeballs. Yes, they had a great viewership number in one game this year and a good number against us, but put them on at 10:30 eastern time against Cal and nobody is watching.
Miami's future depends on how much we win. Continue winning 10-13 games a year and getting the ratings we got last year and someone will want us. I doubt it will be the SEC because of UF, but maybe we are more palatable than FSU for them, and if it comes down to preventing the B1G from having control of Florida then perspectives can change, fast. I still see B1G (despite that moron Genetics continuous spew of bull****) as being a better fit but we are at least 4 years away from knowing anything. if the new bball coach is what we think he is, we will also add to that number. Now, figure out a way to fix baseball and we're solid.
at exit fee’s.
