The offseason in college football is known for speculation, but could the latest reports of conference realignment be true?
USC and UCLA shocked people with their decisions to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten.
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The Big 12 is trying to poach teams from the Pac-12 to gain a superconference of its own. Fans of the Big Ten are excited about the massive television contract it’s getting, but what becomes of the Southeastern Conference. The league that goes by the moniker, “It Just Means More,” will not stand by at let others gain an advantage over it. According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, four Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schools are potential candidates to join the SEC. Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and Virginia are the programs being mentioned. No negotiations have happened, especially with the ACC’s Grant of Rights not expiring until 2036. The four ACC schools would have to find a way out of the contract. Per McMurphy, the SEC could target Oklahoma State from the Big 12 or add another Big 12 school. Texas and Oklahoma will start their SEC membership in 2025.
If Clemson joins the SEC, it gives Alabama a chance to avenge its loss in the 2019 CFP National Championship Game.
Florida State and North Carolina would make for some intriguing SEC matchups with Alabama. Should the SEC grab Oklahoma State, a competition between Nick Saban and Mike Gundy would be worth a conversation.
We will see what happens, but the speculation of the SEC becoming a 16-20 team superconference is interesting.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
