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MEGA Conference Realignment and lawsuits Megathread: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations

Hold My Beer said:
Too much beer and not enough sleep? Or too much sleep and not enough beer? It's one or the other.

Banghead GIF by Ant Hodges


Those brain farts aside, I've been consistent the last couple years in suggesting the SEC and B1G will both end up with 24 schools (25 could work, too, if the P2 goes from 9 to 10 conference games)

I think UNC, UVA, FSU, Clemson, NC State, VA Tech, GA Tech and Duke will end up in the SEC. I believe Miami and WVU could end up in the SEC.

I also believe Mizzou will jump to the B1G like they wanted to back in 2011 prior to settling for the SEC. Big Ten also will take KU, ND, Cal and Stanford. Miami could end up in that 24 as well as all know (and many here seem to prefer). Colorado and/or ASU could fill out the additions depending on what happens with the Canes



Agree.

If enough progress is made by congress on passing legislation to give teeth to NCAA rules, we could see ACC schools announcing their departures by this coming June in order to move to the SEC or B1G by Fall 2027. Wouldn't be shocked by that at all.
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I've said it before, I'll say it again.

If the SEC is serious about shutting off the southeast for Big 10 expansion...then they should stop pusillanimous-footing around and go JUMBO.

FL: Miami-F$U
GA: GaTech
SC: Climpson
NC: UNC and NC State
VA: UVa and VaTech

7 southern state schools, 1 private school.

The Big 10 likely has to settle for Notre Dame and Duke and Cal and Stanford, and then possibly USF and Wake-OR-UCF.

The SEC goes from 16 to 24 in one shot. The SEC blocks the Big 10 from southeastern expansion (unless the Big 10 gambles on the Rutgers-like combo of UCF-USF-Duke-Wake, assuming ND wants to stay Indy). All 13 stars on the Confederate battle flag are represented. And the SEC truly lives up to the name of the SOUTHEASTERN Conference.

The challenge has been announced. SEC, it's your turn...
 
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Hold My Beer said:
View attachment 359835

In this matter, soon means ACC schools deemed worthy of an SEC and/or B1G invitation (such as Miami) will be in their new conference homes by either Fall 2027 or Fall 2028.

So we've got either one or two more football seasons of Jim Phillips interrupting the broadcast to brag about the ACC's latest championships in quidditch and pickleball
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Fall 2027 is too soon.
 
TheOriginalCane said:
I've said it before, I'll say it again.

If the SEC is serious about shutting off the southeast for Big 10 expansion...then they should stop pusillanimous-footing around and go JUMBO.

FL: Miami-F$U
GA: GaTech
SC: Climpson
NC: UNC and NC State
VA: UVa and VaTech

7 southern state schools, 1 private school.

The Big 10 likely has to settle for Notre Dame and Duke and Cal and Stanford, and then possibly USF and Wake-OR-UCF.

The SEC goes from 16 to 24 in one shot. The SEC blocks the Big 10 from southeastern expansion (unless the Big 10 gambles on the Rutgers-like combo of UCF-USF-Duke-Wake, assuming ND wants to stay Indy). All 13 stars on the Confederate battle flag are represented. And the SEC truly lives up to the name of the SOUTHEASTERN Conference.

The challenge has been announced. SEC, it's your turn...
Click to expand...
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I'm sure many here were aware, but just wanted to mention it here again as part of any SEC vs. B1G "best fit" discussions:

UM undergrad enrollment (Fall 2025)
Florida: 32%
All other states: 60%
International: 8%

Among that 60% from other states (the linked info appears to be pre-2025, so these rounded-up numbers are gonna be slightly different)
NJ: 11%
NY: 11%
International: 8%
Mass: 4%
Cali: 4%
ILL: 4%
PA: 4%
Conn: 4%
Md: 3%
GA: 2%
TX: 2%
VA: 2%
Mich: 2%

Every other state was roughly 1% or less

So about 40 percent of students would be from states in the current and likely future SEC footprint.

Just for comparison's sake:
Duke
NC: 14%
International: 10%
CA: 11%
NY: 10%
FL: 9%
TX: 7%
VA: 6%
NJ: 5%

Georgia Tech
GA: 58%
International: 8%
FL: 6%
 
TheOriginalCane said:
If the SEC is serious about shutting off the southeast for Big 10 expansion...then they should stop pusillanimous-footing around and go JUMBO.

FL: Miami-F$U
GA: GaTech
SC: Climpson
NC: UNC and NC State
VA: UVa and VaTech

7 southern state schools, 1 private school.

The Big 10 likely has to settle for Notre Dame and Duke and Cal and Stanford, and then possibly USF and Wake-OR-UCF.

The SEC goes from 16 to 24 in one shot. The SEC blocks the Big 10 from southeastern expansion (unless the Big 10 gambles on the Rutgers-like combo of UCF-USF-Duke-Wake, assuming ND wants to stay Indy). All 13 stars on the Confederate battle flag are represented. And the SEC truly lives up to the name of the SOUTHEASTERN Conference.
Click to expand...

Here's a quote from ESPN's Pete Thamel on the GameDay podcast from back in December 2023:

"I would think the SEC would be happy to sit at 16 for a while because they really like their footprint," Thamel said. "There's enough intimacy. They have a region right now. The only thing that disrupts that is if they have to play defense they don't want the Big Ten to come into their region."

What does staying regional and relatively compact mean to Greg Sankey? Quite a bit.

From 2023 (ESPN):

"Our longest trip will be from Columbia, SC to Austin, Texas," Sankey said in 2023. "That's actually shorter than what will be the shortest trip for the LA schools when they move to the Big Ten"

From 2025 (On3):

Sankey will go to bat for his conference, the SEC, seven days a week and twice on Sunday. The SEC commissioner wants to maintain regional ties to college athletics amid all of the change across the country.

He noticed the changes across other Power Four conferences going coast to coast. Notably the Big Ten, which went to 18 teams and added four west coast schools from the old Pac-12.

Regional rivalries are a fabric of college football and college athletics in general. Sankey wants to keep it that way.

“I’ve been in the airport in Dallas and Chicago watching other conferences — volleyball teams, it was last fall — transiting the conference,” Sankey said. “That’s not the way we’re functioning. I think if you want to challenge yourself at a high level, spend your time in academic commitments and athletic preparation rather than on airplanes. There’s now one place to be and that’s the Southeastern Conference.”
 
TheOriginalCane said:
I've said it before, I'll say it again.

If the SEC is serious about shutting off the southeast for Big 10 expansion...then they should stop pusillanimous-footing around and go JUMBO.

FL: Miami-F$U
GA: GaTech
SC: Climpson
NC: UNC and NC State
VA: UVa and VaTech

7 southern state schools, 1 private school.
Click to expand...

Everybody's got to bring something to the table Sankey can sell to his various constituents: school presidents, AD's and ESPN (and/or future media partners)

Miami/FSU: Locks down the rest of Florida's prime properties with two high-profile football brands. SEC says take a hike, Big Ten

Georgia Tech: Very good academics and Ground Zero for the conference. B1G planting its flag in Atlanta would be an affront to the SEC

UNC and UVA: Expands the conference's footprint via two schools with elite reputations in large and growing states. SEC presidents love

NC State and VA Tech: Different but still large demographic in the aforementioned two states. By far the wisest move politically for the SEC to absorb all four schools and keep it moving

Clemson: Locks down South Carolina with a school that can put 80k in the stands each Saturday. No brainer

Duke: One of the best universities in the world and the nation's most prominent brand in college basketball. No brainer.

WVU: Not an ACC school, but adding them here for a few reasons, one of which is that I think Missouri will leave for the Big Ten

1. Extends the footprint with a contiguous state and one that fits well enough culturally and familiarity-wise with Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and others

2. Reportedly almost got invited back in 2011 before former SEC commissioner Mike Slive/ESPN decided to go with Mizzou

3. Two more "Yes" votes in the Senate when the SEC/P2 need to push through favorable legislation. We shouldn't underestimate the significance of this.

4. Nick Saban. He's been close friends since childhood with former WV governor/senator Joe Manchin, who's long spearheaded trying to get the Mountaineers to the SEC or ACC. It was Saban who WVU leaned on to recruit fellow West Virginian Rich Rodriguez to return to Morgantown last year. It's been Saban shaking hands and standing at podiums in DC in an effort to get the SEC-backed SCORE legislation through Congress. He's clearly involved. Call it quid pro quo if/when Sankey slips WVU through the back door
 
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Hold My Beer said:
Everybody's got to bring something to the table Sankey can sell to his various constituents: school presidents, AD's and ESPN (and/or future media partners)

Miami/FSU: Locks down the rest of Florida's prime properties with two high-profile football brands. SEC says take a hike, Big Ten

Georgia Tech: Very good academics and Ground Zero for the conference. B1G planting its flag in Atlanta would be an affront to the SEC

UNC and UVA: Expands the conference's footprint via two schools with elite reputations in large and growing states. SEC presidents love

NC State and VA Tech: Different but still large demographic in the aforementioned two states. By far the wisest move politically for the SEC to absorb all four schools and keep it moving

Clemson: Locks down South Carolina with a school that can put 80k in the stands each Saturday. No brainer

Duke: One of the best universities in the world and the nation's most prominent brand in college basketball. No brainer.

WVU: Not an ACC school, but adding them here for a few reasons, one of which is that I think Missouri will leave for the Big Ten

1. Extends the footprint with a contiguous state and one that fits well enough culturally and familiarity-wise with Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and others

2. Reportedly almost got invited back in 2011 before former SEC commissioner Mike Slive/ESPN decided to go with Mizzou

3. Two more "Yes" votes in the Senate when the SEC/P2 need to push through favorable legislation. We shouldn't underestimate the significance of this.

4. Nick Saban. He's been close friends since childhood with former WV governor/senator Joe Manchin, who's long spearheaded trying to get the Mountaineers to the SEC or ACC. It was Saban who WVU leaned on to recruit fellow West Virginian Rich Rodriguez to return to Morgantown last year. It's been Saban shaking hands and standing at podiums in DC in an effort to get the SEC-backed SCORE legislation through Congress. He's clearly involved. Call it quid pro quo if/when Sankey slips WVU through the back door
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It'll never be WVU.

Before the SEC takes WVU, they will take UNC-NC State-Duke.

Sure, it's nice to have a couple of Senators in your pocket, ask Don Corleone. But the SEC will be picking up 4 Senators when they add UNC and UVa, so they don't "need" that clout like they might have needed it in 2011. Plus they have Tuberville, and he's just a puppet on a string.

And trust me, you don't need to tell me about WVU and 2011. When I was at NASCAR, I worked with someone that was formerly employed in the WVU Athletic Department at that time. She gave me ALL the inside information on what happened at that time.
 
Hold My Beer said:
There'll be room for all four
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I don't think you are understanding what I said.

In my Jumbo model, the SEC would take 2 Florida, 2 North Carolina, 2 Virginia, 1 Georgia, and 1 South Carolina teams.

They will never take WVU. They would take 3 North Carolina schools before they ever take WVU. WVU was a factor in 2011, and then NEVER since. WVU will never get an SEC bid.
 
TheOriginalCane said:
It'll never be WVU.

Before the SEC takes WVU, they will take UNC-NC State-Duke.

Sure, it's nice to have a couple of Senators in your pocket, ask Don Corleone. But the SEC will be picking up 4 Senators when they add UNC and UVa, so they don't "need" that clout like they might have needed it in 2011. Plus they have Tuberville, and he's just a puppet on a string.

And trust me, you don't need to tell me about WVU and 2011. When I was at NASCAR, I worked with someone that was formerly employed in the WVU Athletic Department at that time. She gave me ALL the inside information on what happened at that time.
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Tubberville is leaving the senate and running for governor of Alabama.
 
TheOriginalCane said:
I don't think you are understanding what I said.

In my Jumbo model, the SEC would take 2 Florida, 2 North Carolina, 2 Virginia, 1 Georgia, and 1 South Carolina teams.

They will never take WVU. They would take 3 North Carolina schools before they ever take WVU. WVU was a factor in 2011, and then NEVER since. WVU will never get an SEC bid.
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I know you've written a lot on this, but I've got just enough time today to read a recap, if you wouldn't mind. As of April 10th, 2026, what is you educated guess as to where UM will go, why and when?
 
filmcane said:
I know you've written a lot on this, but I've got just enough time today to read a recap, if you wouldn't mind. As of April 10th, 2026, what is you educated guess as to where UM will go, why and when?
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Big 10.

Because the Big 10 wants to get into the southeast and UM is a better overall culture fit for the Big 10.

Announcement in about a year.

Again, the timing stuff is an educated guess based on TV negotiations involving the CFP, and could potentially be delayed by political and legislative chaos.
 
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Hold My Beer said:
I think if the SCORE legislation gets through Congress this spring, we might could see (some) ACC departure announcements by the June 1 deadline. Any school that did that would have just one year left in the conference.
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I wouldn't count on anything from DC, there is no consensus and bigger issues for them to think about. But, the rumors are starting about the SEC doing an early re-negotiation, and they 1) want more money and 2) aren't winning like they believe they became accustomed to winning. The B1G has what the SEC wants (champions and more money) and are not going to give up their status without a fight for some of the best teams. Changes are coming, we are positioned well to take advantage.
 
TheOriginalCane said:
Big 10.

Because the Big 10 wants to get into the southeast and UM is a better overall culture fit for the Big 10.

Announcement in about a year.

Again, the timing stuff is an educated guess based on TV negotiations involving the CFP, and could potentially be delayed by political and legislative chaos.
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Much appreciated, sir!
 
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