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IF the SEC was to expand, who makes the most sense to target for expansion and why?
Posted on 2/1/26 at 10:46 am
Posted on 2/1/26 at 10:46 am
I do think eventually the SEC will expand. May not be in the next 12 months but I guarantee when the ACC implodes in 2036, the SEC will poach at least a few schools from there. If so, which ones?
I feel like the SEC will place a huge value on tv market/viewership and as such, these four would make the most sense-
Miami-scoff all you want but Miami pulls in about a little more than 3 million viewers per Saturday. This is more than Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Missouri. Miami is the 12th most watched team in the country.
Florida State-The Seminoles pull in about 2.37 million viewers per week. FSU is the #16 most watched team.
Georgia Tech-I know some old timers may say "Hell no" but I've always felt they belong back in the SEC. Believe it or not, GT is the #19 most watched team with just over 2 million viewers each week.
Clemson-they pull in just under 2 million viewers per week and are the #21 most watched team.
I may be wrong but the powers that be in the SEC seem to put a gigantic premium on the numbers of viewers that watch as a part of their criteria for expansion.
I feel like the SEC will place a huge value on tv market/viewership and as such, these four would make the most sense-
Miami-scoff all you want but Miami pulls in about a little more than 3 million viewers per Saturday. This is more than Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Missouri. Miami is the 12th most watched team in the country.
Florida State-The Seminoles pull in about 2.37 million viewers per week. FSU is the #16 most watched team.
Georgia Tech-I know some old timers may say "Hell no" but I've always felt they belong back in the SEC. Believe it or not, GT is the #19 most watched team with just over 2 million viewers each week.
Clemson-they pull in just under 2 million viewers per week and are the #21 most watched team.
I may be wrong but the powers that be in the SEC seem to put a gigantic premium on the numbers of viewers that watch as a part of their criteria for expansion.
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Posted on 2/1/26 at 12:18 pm to Amarillo Tide
North Carolina & NC State, then possibly Virginia & Virginia Tech. Need to follow the Big's example and bring punching bags on board who'll never realistically threaten for a football title. Nice upgrade basketball wise too.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 1:04 pm to Amarillo Tide
Ohio State and notre dame
Posted on 2/1/26 at 1:26 pm to Amarillo Tide
It needs to shrink.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 1:34 pm to Amarillo Tide
quote:
Miami-scoff all you want but Miami pulls in about a little more than 3 million viewers per Saturday. This is more than Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Missouri. Miami is the 12th most watched team in the country.
Over 3M is correct, but they finished 19th in the country behind all 4 of the teams you listed. That was also in a season they made it to the national title.
LINK
Posted on 2/1/26 at 1:43 pm to Amarillo Tide
It'll end up being Clemson and Miami while the Big-10 counters by adding the powerhouse combo of Syracuse and Boston College.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 2:52 pm to Chris ALL Capps
Virginia would never in a million years join the SEC. I used to work there many years ago. It makes Berkeley, CA look conservative compared to Charlottesville/UVA. Most college campuses are pretty liberal but I was astonished by the hundreds of alums wandering around who look like Willie Nelson and still think it’s 1968.
To say UVA would be a terrible fit in the SEC would be an understatement.
To say UVA would be a terrible fit in the SEC would be an understatement.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 3:44 pm to Amarillo Tide
Not my impression of Charlottesville/UVA lol. And we are well past cultural fit arguments (I don't think they were ever great to begin with, cultural difference big and small is in part what makes sports fun), it is about money, money, money.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 3:54 pm to Amarillo Tide
I thought we already jumped the shark with 16. I just dont see any benefit to anyone but TV people with further expansion. I think we need conference contraction
Posted on 2/1/26 at 5:41 pm to Amarillo Tide
This is 100% correct. It’s bad man. Virginia Tech on the other hand would be a good candidate. They just need to commit more funds which they seem to be doing now.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 5:44 pm to Carlton
It’s not the kids but the admin. I couldn’t see them joining. Big 10, yeah. Not SEC.
You guys gonna make it over the line? We’re only 5 back of Villa for 3rd. Miracles do happen.
You guys gonna make it over the line? We’re only 5 back of Villa for 3rd. Miracles do happen.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 5:48 pm to Amarillo Tide
North Carolina’s administration wants in the SEC
Posted on 2/1/26 at 5:54 pm to Amarillo Tide
Need to add some scrubs. That’ll help with how hard our schedules are. Like the Big 10.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 5:57 pm to Kerrygold
quote:
It’s not the kids but the admin.
This I agree with, but with it basically becoming pro football in the common years, I don't think the academic affiliation piece is going to continue to hold weight for too much longer.
I was pissed after we lost to you guys lol, but Man City desperately wants to give us this title. It is funny what can happen now that everyone is playing in the correct position for ManU
The math is on our side but man sometimes the way we play in attack pisses me off to no end. Own goal is our second highest goal sorcerer lol. If we were just willing to move the ball faster play someone touch football more than 5 minutes a game we would be scary but Artera is going to have us sweating it out until the end of the season.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 6:08 pm to Amarillo Tide
We need more tomato cans like the B1G.
I want Austin Peay, Eastern Carolina, Citadel, Mercer.
I want Austin Peay, Eastern Carolina, Citadel, Mercer.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 6:10 pm to Refrigeraider
Virginia will be independent before they join another conference. They run the ACC.
They aint running the SEC or the B1G.
They aint running the SEC or the B1G.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:02 pm to Carlton
Well, to those guys (UVA), cultural fit is very important, and I can assure you they very much look down their collective noses at the SEC.
UVA is a great school academically but it ain’t happening.
If wanting greater exposure for the SEC into Virginia is a thing, probably Virginia Tech would be better fit. Trouble is, VT is at a bit of a crossroads. I don’t know about now with James Franklin taking over but I do know up until recently VT had pretty much no NIL game.
Some of the powers that be at VT don’t care about NIL or even being competitive in sports. Some do care. My guess is Franklin only accepted that job if VT would get serious about NIL.
UVA is a great school academically but it ain’t happening.
If wanting greater exposure for the SEC into Virginia is a thing, probably Virginia Tech would be better fit. Trouble is, VT is at a bit of a crossroads. I don’t know about now with James Franklin taking over but I do know up until recently VT had pretty much no NIL game.
Some of the powers that be at VT don’t care about NIL or even being competitive in sports. Some do care. My guess is Franklin only accepted that job if VT would get serious about NIL.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 8:18 pm to Amarillo Tide
quote:
Well, to those guys (UVA), cultural fit is very important, and I can assure you they very much look down their collective noses at the SEC.
I agree with you but it is an academic/administration attitude not athletically or culturally and with the money involved and the continued separation of the academic side from the athletic side as college sports get more professionalized there is a good chance those attitudes change very quickly. UNC in the past had the same attitude as a public ivy and they did a 180 quick.
This post was edited on 2/1/26 at 8:23 pm
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:41 pm to Carlton
You may be right. I’m still skeptical.
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