(02-21-2024 09:26 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 12:32 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 12:15 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 11:56 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  VT could easily be left with the B12 as the only option. They were a one trick pony for a long time and while the AD has improved as a whole, I'm not sure they are B10 or SEC caliber when you take the AD/School/Market as a total package.

Not a knock on VT. Just stating the reality that their FB tanked at a very poor time in relation to the B10/SEC discussion. Great school, great support, but not sure if that is enough.

Do you really think P2 expansion will be predicated on a few isolated seasons?

Not so isolated anymore. Last major bowl was from the 2011 season (2012 Sugar Bowl). 84-70 in the last 12 seasons, and 29-32 over the last 5. They've got a long way to go to prove that it wasn't all Beamer as they were a poor football program before his 29 year run. Pry seems to have turned the corner, but 7-6 only feels good when you were 3-8 the prior year.

FB drives practically everything at VT and they've only VERY recently invested in non revenue sports. WBB has done very well under Kenny Brooks (hired from JMU).

If you're the B10 or SEC comparing VT to UNC/UVa/Clemson/FSU/Notre Dame, VT is probably in the 2nd tier with Miami and NCSU. That is all I'm saying.

VA is the school Big and SEC would covet. VT would almost be an afterthought.
For SEC NC and Va are the 2 big gets. For Big FSU, UM, Va, and NC would be the desired. I think SEC will win the NC/Va raffle. They really don't need FSU or UM, For Big those 2 would be home runs. I really don't know where Clemson fits in. Dabo isn't changing with the portal times.

Clemson would be #19 if the SEC lands North Carolina and Virginia. #20 would be a hard choice to make if the following candidates were:

Duke
Georgia Tech
NC State
Virginia Tech

(02-21-2024 09:48 AM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 02:29 AM)Skyhawk Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 12:25 AM)Skyhawk Wrote:  

(02-20-2024 12:05 AM)Big Ron Buckeye Wrote:  So everyone knows that both the SEC and B1G want UNC and UVA. Everything I've heard is that UNC is leaning heavily toward the SEC. Okay, cool... let's say that happens. Are the new markets of North Carolina and Virginia important enough for the B1G that they would take NC State and VA Tech? While both lack the Olympic Sports success and overall snooty factor as the state flagships, they have been more consistent in football programs in the past 30 years. I know there is more to this decision than just football, but this is an interesting question. How much does the B1G want to be in Carolina and Virginia?

It must also be said that the B1G is unlikely to add those two alone but as a larger South Atlantic wing of the Conference. How many will they go to?... Who knows, perhaps 20, 24, or 25. College football has changed so much and appears to be moving in a direction. Of a power 2 splitting away in some form, so the size of the conference may not matter in the future.

Q: "If the SEC is able to get UNC/UVA does the B1G try to get NCSt/VaTech?"

A: Probably not.

Duke is more likely

As for getting into the State of Virginia, if they don't get the U of Virginia, then Maryland is good enough coverage.

Though I think it's more likely that VT goes to the SEC instead of VA.

If we're going to ignore the premise of the question, then I guess first, we have to guess at where FSU and NC are likely going.

I think the fact that NC State was in the so-called "M7", and Duke was not, is a sign that NC is headed to the SEC. Not a guarantee by any means, but just that alone lends me to think so.

(reason: NC/Duke is the more likely pairing if they are headed to the Big10.)

FSU - I think the comments by Jack Swarbrick about how difficult it is to get to Tallahassee is a sign that FSU is leaning towards the SEC. (If air travel is difficult, look more local.) But I think it really depends on how ugly the divorce is from the ACC. If espn ends up one of the "bad guys", they may well be looking at theBig10, who is unlikely to say no, even though they are not AAU (another issue of concern.)

And, unlike FSU, USF just made AAU (along with Miami) - I've repeatedly said that I don't think that that was a coincidence.

So, I think the jury's still out on FSU (pardon the pun : )

I think Clemson will ride out the door to the SEC regardless of which direction FSU goes.

So the easy solution, if the target is 20:

SEC - FSU, Clemson, NC, NC State
Big10 - Miami, USF

If we go to 24, then it depends on what the SEC wants. Do they want to add schools like Louisville, VT, GT, Virginia, Duke, from the ACC? Do they need to?

Does the Big10 need to scoop up all the AAU schools from the ACC? - Pitt, VT, GT, Virginia, Duke, (leaving newly added AAU - ND - aside for the moment), not to mention new members Stanford and Cal...

I don't think they "need" to.

And if ND is remaking the ACC into a league of their own, then I think that both the SEC and ACC are likely good at 20.

Then the only real question is who the #4 for the SEC is - NC State? VT? VA?

I think VT has the most likelihood, unless NC "has" to take NC State along.

That said, if 22 ends up the target, then the SEC can add all three.

And at 24, they can add Louisville and Georgia Tech.

This pretty much locks the Big10 out of the southern states, except Florida. Though Duke would be a very interesting addition, paired with Kansas.

That would make 22.

And if they are going to do that, they might as well add Stanford and the 4Cs.

That makes 27.

Which could be 3 divisions of 9 schools.

Big10 - 27

• Washington, Oregon, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St, Utah, Colorado
• Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue
• Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Penn St, Rutgers, Maryland, Duke, USF, Miami
  

And as for the SEC, 3 divisions of 8:

SEC - 24

• Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Florida
• Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Louisville, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson,
• Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State
  

Obviously, the divisions are re-arrange-able.

If the SEC wanted to go for more, there are obviously more Big12 schools that I think would be happy for an invite...

I never know why the Arizonas are ever included, they've never been at the top of anyone's list. I like Quo but USF is not on the B10 must have list. They already gave Rutgers an undeserved glass slipper, I don't see them doing it again.

I think the AZ schools might well be near the top of the list for the western additions.

Strong alumni presence

Basketball

AZ markets of Phoenix and Tuscon

USC has shown a preference for their addition to the PAC in the past. Apparently threatening to quit unless they were added to the PAC.

Are western schools without actually being on the west coast. (competition for recruiting in California, is apparently a big deal)

By adding them, it helps the west coast schools scheduling, as well as lessens the need for east coast schools to travel west as often.

And those are just a few of the reasons.

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As for USF, they are an AAU school in Tampa Bay area.

I just do not think it was a coincidence that Miami and USF just made AAU.

I look at how Fox apparently said no to USC/Oregon, and turned that into USC/UCLA, and I think that we're going to see 2 schools from Florida added to the Big10.

And travel concerns to FSU are likely to impact Big10 schools much more than SEC schools.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_Inte...al_Airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University...th_Florida

Quote:USF is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is designated by the Florida Board of Governors as one of three Preeminent State Research Universities.

Founded in 1956, USF is the fourth largest university in Florida by enrollment, with 49,766 students from over 145 countries, all 50 states, all five U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia as of the 2022–2023 academic year.

In 2022, the university reported an annual budget of $2.31 billion and an annual economic impact of over $6 billion. According to the National Science Foundation, USF spent $568 million on research and development in 2019, ranking it 43rd in the nation and 25th among public universities. USF's $889 million endowment is the third-largest among Florida public universities and the largest of any American public university founded post-World War II.

And they seem to be doing well recently in Women's Basketball:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Flor...basketball

Quote:USF has made the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament nine times in their history (2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023) and won the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2009. They have won three conference championships, taking the regular season American Athletic Conference title in 2021 and 2023 and the AAC tournament crown in 2021.

All in all, I think a Miami/USF addition to the Big10 would be a strong one.

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Add in the basketball powers of Kansas and Duke, and that's 6 solid additions to the Big10 for 24.