Would UNC and UVA be "takes" for the B1G?
Eight years ago, ESPN, The Sporting News, and other publications wrote "heavily sourced" stories about these two schools being active targets for the B1G, based on their academics, strength across most major sports, and their willingness to part with their existing franchise affiliation. Frankly, having been to both college towns, I think they'd both be excellent additions. As a bonus, it'd leave Duke adrift, without a logical place to go.
Haven't seen the stories flying lately, but if OU and Texas go to SEC, then the whole super-conference stories will start percolating. Thoughts?
I'm sure UNC is craving that road trip to the likes of Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. There would have to be a ridiculously large financial incentive for them to leave and I don't there currently is one.
I think natural fits to join the big ten as far as natural rivalry would be Iowa State and Pitt. I think with the supreme court saying the conferences should manage their own instead of the NCAA being the governing body, we will see super-conferences in the near future. I'm curious to see who the Big Ten would absorb. I like Iowa State, Pitt, UNC, UV, Duke and Notre Dame, even though I hate them, would bring another strong athletic and high academic university. I don't believe they survive as an independent.
What is the appeal of Iowa State? Virginia Tech is a much better fit academically and if Iowa State loses Matt Campbell, are they really a strong athletic school?
Location and natural rivalry as I stated.
The state of Iowa is small (3 million) and already in the Big Ten footprint. There is no reason for the league to be interested in ISU. They would be a net drain financially, bringing in basically no new revenue while getting a cut themselves.
I'm just saying if they go to super conferences, I would bet we would absorb them due to geographical reasons.
Syracuse, UVA, Mizzou & ND
They can't. When the B1G was trying to entice them back then, the ACC passed a rule that any team that leaves the conference has to pay 100% financial payouts they get from their new conference to the ACC through 2035.
Edit: Source for this is Ira Weintraub on this morning's show.
If they wanted in I'd take them in a heartbeat. Both great schools, both decent to good football programs, great to elite basketball programs in any given year, and just overall very well-rounded athletic programs.
Only issue is that I have a hard time seeing UNC going anywhere without Duke. If Duke isn't part of the discussion, I imagine its a nonstarter. Of course they'd still play each other in OOC matchups, but the matchup loses a ton of luster (in basketball, anyway) by it being out of conference. I just don't see it happening without both of them.
I guess everyone has their price, but that would command a big whopping pot of cash for those two to ever seriously consider parting. Seems more likely that UNC would drop out and Virginia Tech would take their place.
I think ND and Syracuse are more logical poaches from the ACC than UNC and UVA. But, ND will never stoop from their high tower to join the B1G and Syracuse hoops, already on the downslope, may really fall off once Boeheim retires, which is probably very soon. But those always seemed like the most logical choices (Syracuse actually isn't far from Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers and even AA/EL; much closer than it is to Durham/CH/ACC country). And if you want some of that juicy NY market, Syracuse gets you a bigger share than Rutgers does.
But, generally I always thought that these hypothetical superconferences that are likely looming in the future will be horrible for college football and for college sports in general. I actually loved the old Big East and even the Nebraska/TexA&M/Colorado-era Big XII. There was so much more balance then.
There's no good reason for the B10 to add some random or meh teams just so it has the same number as the SEC does. Only add teams that are actually value-added. They have to be A-list (USC, Oregon) or at least big-name schools (UNC, UVA). Adding schools like Iowa State or Missouri or Pitt would ultimately bring the league very little; it certainly wouldn't make the league more competitive.
Id like Cincinnati, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, ND...
I don't really feel like adding Pitt would be all that "exciting", but I certainly wouldn't mind Ohio State having another conference foe to contend with in the state.
Absolutely. I don't think it will realistically happen, but I would welcome both UNC and UVA into the B1G umbrella if superconferences are the only way forward.
Double post.
Alternate question, and not one that I think is even remotely likely to happen, but what what if, say, the ACC wanted Michigan and Ohio State? Would you be in favor?
Deal with both OSU and Clemson (and FSU/Miami) if they get their acts together? No thanks. We struggle with Purdue, so I don't think we could handle that schedule.
Though Oklahoma/Texas may be walking into an even tougher schedule scenario.
No. Very bad geographical footprint for Michigan. Lose all traditional rivalries.
You know what though...the B1G east is already kind of watered down with Rutgers and Maryland.
If ND also officially joined and there was a division of lets say Michigan, ND, OSU, Pitt, Syracuse, BC, UVA and VT, I guess it could be worse.
Still a hard no though.
UNC's academic issues with athletes is concerning but I'm sure UM would take them. UVa feels like a better "cultural" fit for the conference's EST teams, but both teams help across a lot of sports and would increase B1G's footprint in growing populations. And honestly, if they can boot Nebraska at the same time that's a win.
In my ideal world, we add ND and Syracuse which I think fits academically as well. And I am optimistic that Shiano 2.0 makes Rutgers a rough out, at least at home. I'd swap MD for Texas though. With UT in the B1G maybe Nebraska gets respectable again, recruiting TX again.
I have an idea. Why dont all 5 power conferences merge into one mega-stupendous-huge conference and we'll call it the Nations Conference American Association or NCAA for short.
The teams out west will form one division and we'll call them the Pacific division
The teams in the midwest will form one division and we'll call them the Legends & Leaders division
The teams in the southwest will form another division and we'll call them the Southwest division
The teams in the mid south will for a division and we'll call them the Atlantic division
Lastly the teams from the southeast will form a division and we'll those guys the fucking cheaters division
Unless the Big Ten presidents change a long-standing conference policy that schools be members of the Association of American Universities in order to be invited*, the only schools that are likely to be added will be members of the AAU. I doubt either will leave the ACC for the Big Ten, but UNC and UVA are both AAU members.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Universities
*Nebraska was a member of the AAU when the Big Ten extended the invitation to join.
College football needs its own national conference with regional divisions. Keep the existing conferences for non-revenue sports. If Texas and Oklahoma really join the SEC it's going to get silly.
Also to answer the OP's question I could see UNC and UVA as fits in the Big 10. Charlottesville does have a similar vibe to AA.
All we need is a real, 16-team NCAA tournament, like every other level of football. That would end all this realignment nonsense.
I don't think it would. The playoff is secondary to the TV deals that conferences demand and that jockeying wouldn't change.
Charlottesville is a great college town.
No way UNC would abandon the Duke rivalry...would they?? If anything, it would seem to make more sense for the B1G to grab ISU and maybe Kansas / KSU. They seem like more of a "fit" than UVA or UNC.
If the Big10 truly believes the long range outcome of conference reshuffling is inevitable, and somewhat "borderless" then they should look at the 4 California schools - USC, UCLA, Stanford, and Cal - create an 18 school conference.
There would be 9 schools in the "west" or non-EST time zone, and 9 schools in the east. The academics of the 4 schools would align well with the Big10, and you would have the NoCal and SoCal television markets.
Of course, these thoughts are always easier than the execution.
Short answer is "yes."
I doubt they say "yes" however.
If the SEC takes Texas & OU (still TBD) and if the Big Ten is "forced" into expanding to 16 teams, the conference is honestly not in a great spot.
(1) The schools that are most attractive (ND, Virginia, UNC, GT, Kansas, Colorado) either are likely IMO to say "no" or have some political baggage (could KU leave w/o K-State?).
(2) The schools that would say yes (Pitt, Syracuse, BC, Iowa State, Cincinnati, WVU, an OK-State that has seen the Big XII be decimated) all are a bit less attractive for various reasons, and/or have schools already in the conference that might want to block them.
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And then there's one other possibility. It's a real longshot but if the ACC could somehow able to convince Notre Dame to forego independence, they could invite both ND and PSU. PSU might say yes to that one and that's one scenario where the Big Ten actually loses a team. I'm not saying I'd support that, but that possibility is out there.
Yep, I agree that the B1G would be in a position where the available schools aren't attractive and the attractive shools aren't available.
I would guess the most likely scenario though, is that the B1G adds two of Pitt, Syracuse and BC. While not as attractive as the VA or NC schools, those three are def preferred to any of the former C-USA schools or Big 12 schools.
Georgia Tech is the ACC school to get. Large UM (and other B10 schools) alumni base in Atlanta. Their biggest rival is UGA which is already non-conference and is scheduled every year. Very strong academically. Passable basketball school and very good baseball and golf school. Lots of history in the program, including some shameful history with UM that both schools should want to put behind them by playing regularly, with their whole teams.
That really makes no sense, and this is coming from a native Atlantan who was all about GT football and basketball in the very early 90s. If anyone thought that Maryland and Rutgers were stretches, then GT is a bigger stretch than either of those.
The better choices from a geographic perspective are 'Cuse and Pitt (and nd). From a culture/academic perspective, I'd be happy with UVA, but 'Cuse and Pitt would also fit.
As for academics, USNWR (for better or for worse) rates Syracuse and Pitt tied at #58 - just behind #53 osu and Purdue, tied with #58 Maryland, and ahead of #63 Penn State and Rutgers.
Pitt also has a world-class medical center and is in a pretty cool midwestern city.
Duke and UNC could still schedule every year in basketball. It wouldn't be twice/year but they could still play.
B1G should just just go to 20 and add USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford, BYU and Notre Dame. If BYU and Notre Dane don’t want to come just add Arizona and Arizona State.
Two super conferences...North and South LOL. Just draw a line across the middle of the U.S.
I don't think it's likely but Vandy never seemed like a good fit in the SEC and would be a much better fit in the B1G. Vandy and UVA together would be great. Academic prestige and expands the footprint.
Interesting thought. Doubt Vandy would leave the SEC though. It's not a financial upgrade and Vandy cares about baseball so going to the B1G would kill them.
Good point about baseball. That and the SEC factor make it unlikely but certainly from an academic, geographic, and overall program standpoint, it would make sense. In many ways, Vandy is like the southern version of Northwestern. I guess Duke would make sense in that role also.
Agree on the academics for sure. And the Vandy - NW comp. But not really a geographic fit per se. Tennessee shares no borders with any Big Ten state and is very much "the south". Even NJ and Maryland share substantial borders with an existing B1G state (PA).
Tobacco shares???
I say just let the SEC expand and create their own minor league football league. Those that want in go, and those that don't go back to playing in their regional footprints so fans don't get screwed. Won't happen because....money, but it would be fun.
I would say the best would be UVA and Ga Tech. Both top notch public universities, fit well enough into the B1G footprint. ACC adds Notre Dame and West Virginia. Their next two teams to purge probably then be 2 Big 12 castoffs or they could go outside and add like Memphis, Cincy, or UCF.
Pac-12 scraps together the last of Big 12 with Kansas being the main “prize.” They may fold and oblige with BYU’s restrictions and brings the in to help with Utah and a good football program
Not a bad idea but geographically just really makes no sense to have ND in the ACC and GA Tech in the B1G. UVA and Va Tech also an idea but only opens one market instead of two.
I wish the Big 10 would go on the offense here. They have everyone together this week for the Big Ten football media days. Have a vote and offer OU and Texas before the SEC does. If they aren't going to do that then I hope they go after USC and ND. Or maybe all four of the California teams. Or maybe 3 of them and Colorado (only because Boulder Colorado is beautiful and I enjoy traveling there.)
But sitting back and letting the teams fall where they do I think can only hurt them.
I don't get why so many people are seemingly excited about adding more teams. For what? Haven't we all seen how dumb realignment can be? I feel like we barely see the teams in the west anymore
As someone who lives in NC, I can tell you it would be very difficult politically to take UNC without taking NC State. The entire UNC system of colleges is basically run by those two schools, and the idea one would be allowed to ditch the other just doesn't wash.
Not as up on Virginia, and the state has changed tremendously from when the state legislature basically forced UVA to go to the ACC and push for Virginia Tech to be the third team taken in the Big East raid (it was originally supposed to be Miami/BC/Syracuse).
The thing about the ACC is that even though it's weaker money wise than the SEC/Big 10, it's probably more cohesive. Traditionally, the tobacco road schools + UVA have actually been the schools with the most power within the conference.
I would welcome them to the conference.
UVA would be a great fit with B1G well beyond sports. Large research university with excellent academic standards. They’d be first on my get list for expansion.
UNC is never leaving the ACC...ever.