Brett McMurphy: North Carolina, Virginia 'attractive' to SEC, Big Ten

On3’s Brett McMurphy reported North Carolina and Virginia might be next up when college conferences inevitably realign in the future. This comes on the heels of Maryland AD James E. Smith saying he could envision the Big Ten having 20 teams in the near future.

“I don’t know about you guys, I was surprised you didn’t say 24 because I think you know that kind of what Andy laid out, I think we’re going to be 20 or 24 with the SEC and the Big Ten,” McMurphy said on Andy and Ari On3. “The question is, what is going on with the Big 12 and the ACC and are they going to be allowed to be part of that group? I think it’s very clear … look, after I reported that this morning, I immediately got a text from someone within the SEC and basically said what I’ve been thinking, and that is North Carolina and Virginia will be highly contested between both conferences.

“And where they end up, look, no one knows. It’s impossible to say, but I do really believe that they are the most attractive to both leagues. And we’ll have to see what happens.”

North Carolina and Virginia are currently in the ACC, which recently expanded last season. The conference added SMU, Stanford and Cal to grow to 17 teams.

Should North Carolina and Virginia leave, one would assume it’s a package deal, rather than the two schools going to two different conferences. Then again, you know what happens when you assume.

As it stands, the Big Ten has 18 teams and the SEC has 16 following the realignments ahead of last year. Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA went to the Big Ten, making the conference coast to coast. The SEC added Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12.

In regards to North Carolina and Virginia, one connection for UNC to the Big Ten was Bill Belichick. Well, it was just in quote only of course, as the head coach was asked about the Big Ten’s latest College Football Playoff proposal.

“I think that one is over my pay grade,” Belichick said. “I have a ton of respect for Tony, I think Tony’s done a great job as commissioner of the Big Ten. Greg (Sankey) in the SEC, for that matter. Whatever the conference commissioners and NCAA, college presidents, decide, is what they decide. I’m going to kind of back out of that one. Whatever it is, try to focus on getting our team ready to play this season the best I can here.

“I’m not sure I know all the information and the ramifications of those decisions. How it impacts academics, conference playoffs, and all else. I just don’t think I’m the right person for all that. But I’m not going to get into a debate with Tony Petitti, I have a ton of respect for Tony. If that’s his opinion, I’m sure he’s got a good basis for it.”