(04-14-2021 08:16 AM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  Not that it has a chance of happening but I'd like to see the breakdown go this way:

Duke, Wake Forest -> Big East

UNC, UVa -> Big Ten

VT, NCSU -> SEC

Miami, Boston College, Florida State, Syracuse, Pitt, Clemson, Louisville, Georgia Tech -> Big 12

The states of Virginia and North Carolina would be the meeting points of the Big Ten and SEC. Boston College, Miami, Pitt and West Virginia will play more games against each other. Notre Dame would continue playing in the Northeast and Southeast but skip over the mid-Atlantic states. It's not optimal for either of the gaining conference but it'd get the job done of consolidation.

I've considered that option but it does pose difficulties. Duke and North Carolina were insistent upon staying together when seeking emergency options after Maryland's departure.

There are ways to make this work for you but it requires more moving pieces.

Duke, North Carolina, Virginia to the Big 10 and Nebraska to the Big 12.
N.C. State and Virginia Tech to the SEC.

IMO this would be the simplest division that would be possible, but Nebraska likely would not go for it.

Requiring no school to move puts the Big 10 at 18. Add Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pitt (assuming N.D. still wants independence).

However what this does is to gut the Big 12's potential future value as the SEC would take the aforementioned 2 schools and pick up F.S.U. & Clemson resolving scheduling issues for South Carolina and Florida and solidifying it's grip on Southeastern branding.

Now the Big 12 has these options: Miami, Georgia Tech, Louisville as without Pitt there is no linkage to Syracuse or B.C..

Now if Notre Dame cast in fully with Texas and Oklahoma they would bring B.C. & Syracuse with them. But if Notre Dame casts in fully anywhere why not do it for the most money?

The problem with 16 is that Duke and UNC don't stay together unless they head to the SEC or Nebraska moves back to the Big 12 and if the SEC and Big 10 move to 18 there isn't enough value for the Big 12.

Now if we move to a P4 Champs only and ND feels compelled to join a conference then you might work things out with Virginia and N.D to the Big 10 and Duke and North Carolina to the SEC.

Then the Big 12 has Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech Miami, N.C. State, and Virginia Tech, Pitt, and Louisville to add. That lineup has much more appeal.