If the SEC looks to go to 16

[OneParticularHarbor]

Suppose the ACC sticks together, which looks increasingly likely given the addition of Syracuse and Pitt, plus the supposed desire to go to 16. If the SEC wants to go to 16, where do they look? Oklahoma? Missouri? WVU? I can't see Texas given their academic snootiness. There's the PAC12 talk from Oklahoma, and the SEC would not take Oklahoma State without Oklahoma. I can't see any current Big East team going into the SEC. Louisville? South Florida? Please.

I say all that to say this- I don't see the SEC going past 14. I wonder if the SEC wouldn'tsecretly be OK with Texas A&M continuing to have legal trouble and just staying at 12.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

It's not perfect, but it at least opens up new markets, and none of those programs are terrible.

 

[bulliegolfer]

OU doesn't seem interested so that would leave out OK St too if they are a packaged deal. I would go after Missouri, WVU and maybe Kansas. The first 2 for their markets and Kansas for their basketball program. I know some are not interested in WVU, but with ACC schools apparently out of the equation they may be the SEC's best remaining bet.

 

[57stratdawg]

Texas AM and Missouri are no brainers. The next most likely are all ACC schools: Clemson, VT, Florida State, NC State.

West Virginia, Louisville, Cincy have no chance.

 

[studentdawg87]

In fact, I think an argument could be made that the SEC may have already lost. TAMU is a great pick up, but neither Missouri nor West Virginia has any business being in the SEC, especially West Virginia. 17 that state, school and anyone associated with either. John Prine is the only good thing about West Virginia. Market sizes be damned, we should have just taken Clemson and Florida State and been done with it. They both make sense from a geographic standpoint, and Clemson fits in culturally as well.

The SEC is going to spend a decade or so kicking itself over not allowing a school from the same state as a current conference member to join. The ADs at Florida, Georgia and South Carolina can go 17 themselves.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

We would be better off getting Texas Tech or the Kansas schools.

 

[hatfieldms]

......

 

[Dawgpile]

Then OSU isn't the excess baggage we wouldn't want.

You take them to get OU, and balance with Mizzu/WVU (rumored to be #14 pick 'em anyway).

I believe #15-16 are ACC schools.

 

[eurotrash]

so we can chant "SEC, SEC, SEC..." at almost every bowl game. Four divisions within the conference (Southwest, West, East, Southeast), have two pre-championship games (the SEC semis, back-to-back on ESPN) then a championship and then off to the bowls. Imagine the revenue. I'll probably go hoarse from chanting "SEC."

 

[mstate1977]

coming to the SEC considering the new additions and the fact that the member institutions voted unanimously to increase the buyout to $20 mil.

 

[Columbus Dawg]

the Big Ten has no plans to expand past 12. The Pac 12 won't go past 14 unless Texas wants to join.

The SEC would do fine to stay at 12, but appears dead set on adding A&M so I think we go to 14 and stick.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

Two years ago, they were a phantom second added back onto the clock by corrupt Big 12 officials from playing in the National Championship.<div>
</div><div>They're a solid basketball program, a natural rival for Kentucky in both football and basketball, and they add a large new market. With a team in Ohio, it will be easier for the SEC to recruit in Big 10 country.</div><div>
</div><div>Their fan support isn't great right now, but given a few years to grow, they'll be on MSU/Kentucky level in a few years, and being located in a huge city gives them the chance to surpass us. The lack of fan support prevents them from being a slam dunk, but they're not a terrible addition to the SEC - much better than whatever also-rans we have left like Texas Tech and Louisville, who really don't add anything.</div>

 

[Columbus Dawg]

please stop this train of thought..

 

[studentdawg87]

I have no idea where you are getting this ridiculous idea.

 

[OneParticularHarbor]

You don't want Cincinnati. Very uneven performance over the long haul.

 

[jakldawg]

The Bearcats' practice facility is actually better than the Bengals.
But like everybody else has stated: their overall athletic dept. is not SEC-caliber. Take it from someone who has spent several years on their campus. Cincy (the city's) "bandwagon" fan community is either pulling for OSU or UK. The vast majority of the fanbase lives within the I-275 corridor. While it would increase the number of State games I actually get to attend by a ton, this would make zero sense for the SEC.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

Take A&M and TCU, move Bama and the 17ing cheating wareagletigerplainsmenmulequeers to the east and I'd be a happy mother 17er.