Slive weighing the possibility of expanding the SEC.

[mstatefan88]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-instantreplay-expansion

I wonder who we would attempt to get to make our conference stronger if the Big 10 and Pac 10 bring in some big time programs. Only thing I can see is maybe Georgia Tech and Clemson. Don't see who else we really would want to bring in from the Southeast. The other Florida schools won't go anywhere, and there really aren't any other good schools good enough in basketball and football for it to be worth our time to bring them in.

 

[mstatefan88]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-instantreplay-expansion

I wonder who we would attempt to get to make our conference stronger if the Big 10 and Pac 10 bring in some big time programs. Only thing I can see is maybe Georgia Tech and Clemson. Don't see who else we really would want to bring in from the Southeast. The other Florida schools won't go anywhere, and there really aren't any other good schools good enough in basketball and football for it to be worth our time to bring them in.

 

[Bulldog Backer]

...that the Major Conferences: The SEC, PAC, BigTen, Big 12, and ACC are maneuvering to form 5 16 team superconferences, then are going to tell the NCAA to go fly a kite.

 

[615dawg]

if the SEC were to expand by four teams, would be:

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eastern Front</span>

Georgia Tech - former member of the SEC, right smack in the middle of SEC country. Would be a great fit academically and athletically.
Florida State - the team that the SEC wanted instead of South Carolina, but the ACC at the time was the best place for FSU football. Now that FSU football isn't as relevant, a move could happen.
South Florida or Central Florida - big TV markets come with these two 40,000+ student schools. These are two schools that have an opportunity to be big time players in the college football landscape in 20 years, a move to the SEC could expedite that.
Miami - a lot like Florida State, except with a bigger TV market.
Clemson - the SEC already has one team in South Carolina, Clemson is an SEC-type school stuck in the ACC. It would be a good fit.
Louisville - You'll hear a big push to get Louisville in, but they only have a chance if some of the players above drop out.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Western Front</span>

Tulane - a long shot, but a former SEC member with great academics. I don't see the SEC adding four powerhouses. They will try, but its highly doubtful they will suceed.
Memphis - not as long shot as one may think. Memphis has some money guys behind the scenes that would make a big move if the SEC were to expand by four.
Texas and Texas A&M - not one but both - This would be one of those situations like Virginia Tech to the ACC a few years back. One would not go without the other. This would be huge for the SEC, and if the Big 10 and Pac 10 raid the Big 12 North as expected, you'll see a return to a revamped Big Eight or a watered down Big 12.

My guess is that if the SEC were to expand by four teams, the initial contact would be with
Texas
Texas A&M
Florida State
Georgia Tech

Clemson would be waiting in the wings, and if Texas and Texas A&M were interested, the SEC would go down the list to Miami, USF, UCF, etc. If Florida State and Georgia Tech would come and A&M/Texas wouldn't - you may see Memphis and USF with a solid chance to get in.

 

[lawdawg02]

The other Florida schools won't go anywhere

$$$ talks, and the SEC's deals with CBS and ESPN carry some major financial benefits. I don't see the SEC expanding unless the Big XII crumbles (loses schools to the Big 10 and Pac 10) and we can scoop up Texas and A&M.

 

[Xenomorph]

....apparently about to lose CO to the Pac10. There's about to be a vacuum in the middle of the country. Big10/ACC owning the east coast. SEC owning the southeast, Pac10 owning everything west of the Rockies.

Big 12's about to (if not already do) own the smallest tv market of any major conference.

Tech and Clemson aren't leaving the ACC, and really what good would they do the SEC.

But Texas and Texas A&M are a WHOLE other story....

edit to add: Somebody tell me reasons why the SEC should feel confident Slive will do a good job handling something as monumental as this. Cause right now, I can't find'em.

 

[Xenomorph]

It's all about dollars and market share. Putting the SEC network in as many homes as possible is a huge consideration.

Eastern Front

Georgia Tech - bring's very little new to the table for the SEC other than new blood. Georgia would never go for it.
Florida State - It's still easier to win the ACC than the SEC. That's not changing anytime soon.
South Florida or Central Florida - No help at all in expanding the SEC brand.
Miami - See: Florida State
Clemson - Much more SEC than ACC... not sure what they bring to the table market-wise though.
Louisville - 17 Louisville. They're about as southern as an 1865 carpetbagger.

Western Front

Tulane - No shot.
Memphis - No shot.
Texas and Texas A&M - Win/Win for everybody. Here's the winner.

 

[bonedaddy401]

FloridaState or Miami leave the ACC for the SEC.GeorgiaTech and Clemson would be the only two in my mind that would leave and come to the SEC.<div>
</div><div>What would be in it for Texas to leave? The win the Big 12 every year and have played for Nation Championships by doing so. They would never leave the Big 12. A&M won't either because they have a chance at being a top tier school in the Big 12 and in the SEC they would never have that opportunity.</div><div>
</div><div>Florida State and Miami won't leave the ACC because they can't step in right now and be competitive for an SEC title. They are already big name schools within the ACC, there is nothing to gain bycomingto the SEC where thecompetitionis that much harder.</div><div>
</div><div>Clemson and Georgia Tech could come into the SEC and actually gain recognition, which Miami and Florida State wouldn't, and they make more geographic sense than the Texas schools.</div>

 

[PBRME]

Replace GA Tech with Miami and you have the A list.

 

[Xenomorph]

They win the Big 12 every year and have played for Nation Championships by doing so.

...you mean Texas lacks the arrogance to believe they could win the SEC every year, they obviously you've never met a Longhorn fan.

Seriously... if the SEC made a serious run at UT and A&M and showed them how many zero would be in front of the decimal point it'd be game over.

 

[bonedaddy401]

Did they or did they not play for theNationalChampionship last year? Is winning an SEC Championship bigger than that? There is NOTHING in it for them to leave the Big 12. They already have a top 5 athletic budget. No incentive there either.

 

[patdog]

If they expand to 16, I'd think they'd add Texas and Texas A&M to the West and North Carolina and either Florida St., Clemson, GA Tech or Miami to the East. North Carolina would be preferable to any of the other ACC schools because it would get the SEC into the very big North Carolina TV market (it's the 10th largest state with a population of 9.4 million).

Edit: Also add schools like Virginia or Virginia Tech to the list of candidates to the east. Again, access to a huge TV market (12th largest state with a population of 7.9 million).

 

[Xenomorph]

...more money. The SEC would provide that.

Here's a good article: If Big Ten Expands Will SEC Follow? Ranking the Expansion Candidates

 

[GloryDawg]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">will all 12 schools agree to let them in? When Arkansas and South Carolina join, they were easy targets with no potential objections. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Here’s the problem now Would LSU vote yes on Tulane? Would Florida vote yes on Florida St or Miami? Would Georgia vote yes on Georgia Tech?Would South Carolinavote yes on Clemson? In some cases I think they would since theyare already rivals and this would ramp it up even more but in many casesthe Commissioner would have to do some arm twisting and deal makings on many of these schools. It's not as easy as you would think. Plus the Texas Schools, I think there is a state law that requires both Texas and Texas A&M to be in the same conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m most likely wrong on that, just something I heard somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think they would have to look into other Texas schools, North Carolina or Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Due to basketball I don’t know if any of the N.Carolina schools would consider leaving the ACC.</p>

 

[615dawg]

Colorado will go to the Pac 10. The Big 10 is looking at Nebraska, Iowa State and Missouri.

If the SEC started flirting with Texas and Texas A&M, it would make the Big 12's largest market Oklahoma City, while the SEC picks up Houston (and honestly, most of DFW) and the Pac 10 picks up Denver. The Big Ten doesn't get a huge market boost from any of the Big 12 teams they are looking at, but the combined effect of losing 3-4 teams could cause Texas/A&M to bolt.

That being said, Houston and TCU would be the front runners to take their spots, both formidable replacements in creating the 615dawg 17 the NCAA plan.

Pac 10
----------------
Current Pac 10 plus Colorado and Utah

Big 12
----------------
Complete restructuring:
Big 12 loses Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, but adds TCU, Houston, BYU, New Mexico and Air Force*

SEC (Super Conference)
-----------------
Current SEC plus Texas, Texas A&M, Florida State, Clemson

Big Ten (Super Conference)
-----------------
Current Big 10 plus Nore Dame, Iowa State, Missouri, Pittsburgh, West Virginia

Big East (Super Conference in Basketball)
---------------
Loses Notre Dame, South Florida and West Virginia
Adds Memphis, Army and Navy

ACC
---------
Loses Florida State, Clemson , Boston College
Picks up South Florida and Central Florida

* - Service academies get special consideration. Everyone else can 17 themselves. Super Conferences get designation because divisional winners get auto bid to 8 team football playoff and 32 team basketball championship.

 

[RebelBruiser]

What market share is there to gain for the SEC outside of adding those two?

If you add those two to the West, then you can add some combination of FSU, Louisville, UNC, or Clemson to the East and be done with it.

I say 17 Georgia Tech. Leave them high and dry if you expand since they thought they were too good for the SEC way back when. Make them still pay for their 17 up. And yes, that makes us look like a bitter ex-b/f, but we're the bitter ex-b/f that's now a millionaire 17ing models on the weekends, so we can shove it in their faces.

ETA: Life would suck for us though if we were to add Texas and A&M to the West. Playing in a division with Auburn, Bama, LSU, Texas, and A&M would be awful.

 

[Harry Doyle]

that the Big 12 might be in line to renegotiate their revenue sharing policy to a more balanced per school basis. This can't happened right now because Nebraska is part of a 4 school block (Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma) that is enough to veto any mention of it. If Nebraska leaves, then this block is a school short, so renegotiation is a possibility. So if this were to happen Texas would have a lot of money to lose and then might consider bolting to a different conference.

I doubt this happens but this is just a conspiracy theory I stumbled upon this week.

 

[Bdog9090]

Big Ten (Super Conference)
-----------------
Current Big 10 plus
Nore Dame, Iowa State, Missouri, Pittsburgh, West Virginia

Big
East (Super Conference in Basketball)
---------------
Loses Notre
Dame, South Florida and West Virginia, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pittsburgh</span>
Adds
Memphis, Army and Navy

I honestly don't know who from the East I would want to join. I would be solid on Texas and TAM, but who wouldn't. I think I would probably shoot for UNC and a school in VA. The stuff about them posted earlier is pretty sound.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I would set it up with 4 divisions that feed into a 2 round end-of-season playoff. You play everyone in your division each year (3 games), everyone from another division (4 games) on a two year rotation (who divisions play each other on a home-away basis), then a permanent from the other two divisions (2 games). This gives a 9 game SEC schedule, with 3 OOC games. So the divisions could go something like this.

SEC Southwest
Texas
Texas A&M
Arkansas
LSU

SEC Central
MSU
Ole Miss
Alabama
Auburn

SEC North
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Tennessee
Clemson

SEC South
Georgia
Florida State
Florida
South Carolina

We'd always have a permanent from the other three divisions, with some of the permanents set by major rivalries such as Georgia-Auburn, Tennessee-Alabama, Tennessee-Florida, etc. While the conferences may not be the most balanced at this point, some rearranging or getting rid of geographic restrictions could help. As is the North above is the weakest football division, while the strongest basketball division.

 

[AROB44]

What market share is there to gain for the SEC outside of adding those two?

If you add those two to the West, then you can add some combination of FSU, Louisville, UNC, or Clemson to the East and be done with it.

I say 17 Georgia Tech. Leave them high and dry if you expand since they thought they were too good for the SEC way back when. Make them still pay for their 17 up. And yes, that makes us look like a bitter ex-b/f, but we're the bitter ex-b/f that's now a millionaire 17ing models on the weekends, so we can shove it in their faces.

ETA: <font color="#ff0000">Life would suck for us though if we were to add Texas and A&M to the West</font>. Playing in a division with Auburn, Bama, LSU, Texas, and A&M would be awful.

Yep...weboth could just about forget about football andbasketball.Plus, baseball would be a hell of a lot tougher.We both have enough trouble trying to get to andstay in the middle of the pack. Would bedamn near impossible if that happened.

 

[ckDOG]

We have a tough enough time as it is getting bowl eligible, the last thing I want to do is weight our 12 games to more SEC games.

I do like your division breakouts though. The concept is certainly interesting.

 

[RobbieRandolph]

nt

 

[GloryDawg]

They would have to change the rules for the number ofBCS bowl gamesper conferences. You add Texas to the SEC and the SEC has only one BCS bowl bid thatwould mean abig time program being pulled out of the bowl system every year. You would have TX, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, LSU and Tenn playing for one BCS bowl game. Hopefully one would be in the BCS National Championship game, given the extra BCS bowl bid but the BCS bowl system could get killed. Not that I would care.

 

[lawdawg02]

Didn't Conference USA try that? I'm thinking that two 8-team divisions would work. Each team plays its division opponents once per year, same as the current format. That's 7 division games instead of 5. Rotatetwo games per year against out-of-division opponents, or have one permanent and one rotating (to keep UT-AL, UGa-AU, etc).

It's probably not feasible, but what if the SEC could have it's own playoffs? (I really like that part of your 4 divisions) Take the W1 and W2 and play E2 and E1, with the winners meeting for the SECCG. SEC ADs would have to build money bins.

 

[Johnson85]

but I would think Miami and FSU also expand the SEC market. Or even Miami and UNC.

I wouldn't have thought about UNC as an option, but if they were willing to leave and the North Carolina legislature didn't pull a Virginia, that would give the SEC a foothold in a reasonably populous state and a basketball franchise. Also, as far as football goes, they're decent enough to not drag down the SEC but not so good that it makes it any harder for anSEC East team to win the NC.

 

[patdog]

The16-team WAC is the one that tried 4 divisions, but the way they did it (and I'm sure the way the SEC would do it) would be to combine the 4 divisions into 2 each year, so that you'd play the 3 teams in your division every year and then the teams in the other 3 divisions would rotate into and out of your division every 2 years. For example, assue the divisions are:

Texas
Texas A&M
LSU
Arkansas

MSU
UM
Bama
Auburn

Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

South Carolina
Kentucky
Virginia
Virginia Tech

We'd always be in the same division with Bama, UM and Auburn. Our other 4 divisional opponents would rotate between the other 3 groups.

 

[patdog]

nm

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

nm

 

[Liverdawg]

If it is all about money (which it is) then what is keeping us in the SEC? I was very surprised to see that Vandy has us both beat in revenue. What keeps us in? It's not like there would be a massive public outcry if we did get booted.

 

[Roy Munson.sixpack]

in other words...we aint goin no where

 

[Dawgzilla]

The Big 12 North is currently bringing very little to the conference. I'm not talking so much about competition, as money. With the exception of Nebraska, the Big 12 North schools have small fan bases and very little TV following. The Big 12 is not in position to command the huge TV contracts of the SEC and Big 10.

Texas had very serious discussions with the Big 10 before agreeing to join the Big 8 back in the '90s. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Texas joined the Big 10 or even the Pac 10 this time around.

 

[ckDOG]

Not likely - and it would all have to be hush hush. But, I don't think there is anything forcing schools to stay in if they wanted to leave and start something new.

We can't kicked out, but we don't have to be invited to anything new that is created.

 

[patdog]

There was a rule that no one could be kicked out of the WAC so they just said, screw that we can't kick the other 8 teams out but we can sure as hell leave. I agree, not likely the SEC would do that partly because the top schools don't want all of their games to be against other top-20 schools.

 

[LTblows]

We can form the new SEC with:

East Div.
State
Southern Miss
UAB
Middle TN
USA
Tulane

West Div.
Ole Miss
LaTech
ULALA
L-Mo
Arkansas State
Memphis

Booyah Bitches.

 

[Hotel Roosevelt]

It's fun to think about, but looking at it through a maroon prism it looks bad no matter how we would expand. Especially adding UT and TAM to the West. It's hard enough to win the West, much less the conference as it is. Unless we are getting Tulane, which won't happen, it's going to be bad news for any team in Mississippi.