USC and UCLA recently announced their departure from the Pac-12 and will be making the switch to the Big Ten. It was the most recent move in a series of shocking conference realignment moves.
In the summer of 2021, it was reported that Texas and Oklahoma would be joining the SEC, which took the collegiate sports world by storm. However, the ripple effect caused by Texas and Oklahoma continues to grow. Many expect seismic changes to come as a result of the two Southern California schools departing.
The SEC and Big Ten are headed toward becoming superconferences of 20 or more members while the Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC scramble to figure out their future. So as conferences continue to expand, how does the SEC continue to be proactive rather than reactive?
Here are five programs the SEC should add to continue to strengthen the conference.
Honorable Mention: Notre Dame
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I think everyone recognizes that the Fighting Irish will be a member of the ACC or Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean the SEC shouldn’t try. Notre Dame, as an independent, has the biggest collegiate following in football. However, times are changing and the Irish will get to choose which conference it goes to based on how the contracts compare and the SEC will certainly have a word.
Honorable Mention: Oklahoma State
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Like Notre Dame, I don’t imagine this is a move Oklahoma State will commit to, but it is a call worth making if you are the SEC. Oklahoma State has had some very financially-sound boosters such as T. Boone Pickens. It would also push the SEC to continue expanding west. Oklahoma State has outstanding athletic programs outside of just football such as wrestling and basketball.
Virginia Tech
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The SEC will begin to pick off the members of the ACC based off of geography, and tapping into the Washington D.C market isn’t something the SEC is afraid of doing. Virginia Tech is annually a top-25 football program, as well as a very sound academic institution. There are some in-conferene ties too, as legendary former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer is the father of current South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer.
North Carolina
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