The ACC is in a time of immense turmoil. Multiple schools have filed lawsuits against the conference, a last-ditch effort at joining the conference realignment party led to some head-scratching decisions, and nearly half the league wants out.
While the conference struggles through this internal battle, other conferences need to think strategically. Like the PAC-12, if the ACC were to fall apart, which programs should receive invites?
The SEC is one of the two elite conferences in many sports, not just football – with the Big Ten being the other. With this latest wave of conference realignment, the SEC is the only conference that has retained some sort of geographical identity. For that reason, among others, the conference needs to be very selective with who receives an invitation to join the conference.
Here are five current ACC programs that the SEC should consider extending invites to.
Florida State
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This one is obvious. Florida State Seminoles football is on the upswing after a few forgettable years. Though some may argue there is recency bias with respect to the program’s undefeated 2023 season and the controversy regarding the College Football Playoff Committee, I’d counter that by saying the Tallahassee-based program has a historical athletics department that has a recognizable brand and a strong corps of fans. Geographically, it makes perfect sense.
Duke Blue Devils
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The Duke Blue Devils are obviously a basketball powerhouse, which often overshadows its improving football program that has been garnering national attention recently. Basketball is the focus here. The SEC has established itself as a regular contender in the basketball realm. What better way to grow the conference’s brand and build up in-conference competition than by bringing in one of the most storied programs of all time?
North Carolina
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You think the SEC would extend an invite to Duke and not the North Carolina Tar Heels? Wrong! UNC offers a blend of historical, and current, basketball relevance, while also providing a football team that has produced plenty of NFL talent and has been competitive at times. Keeping the Duke-UNC rival alive, the location, the athletics and academics make this an easy pick for the SEC.
Miami
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The Miami Hurricanes recently went to the Final Four, but the immediately failed to make the March Madness tournament the following season. The football team has Mario Cristobal at the helm, but has yet to show much improvement outside of landing a few big wins on the recruiting trail. Why would Miami be an attractive program for the SEC? Well, it offers elite brand recognition. The conference is already loaded with teams who are successful purely based on their recognizable names and logos, Miami may not be ‘The U’ from a few decades ago, but it’s still capable of getting fans talking. Not to mention, it’s been a while since the university in Coral Gables has been viewed as the “bad guys.”
Virginia
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Virginia has a strong basketball program with lots of potential on the football field. Academically, Virginia is a reputable institution. So why not reach out if you are the SEC? There’s the long-standing debated regarding whether or not Virginia is considered a part of the south. This is the only program on this list that doesn’t absolutely check the box for geographical location.
