Paul Finebaum identifies the ACC school that would be the best addition to the SEC
Paul Finebaum made his regular appearance on WJOX on Monday morning, and addressed the topic of an ACC school the SEC should target if the league expands further.
“I would go for North Carolina first, because they really hit a lot of different boxes,” Finebaum said. “For one, they are the dominant university in one of the 10 or 11 largest states in the country. That doesn’t matter as much as it used to from a television footprint. But they do cover a lot there. They have a respectable football program, they have an elite basketball program, which I don’t think, again, is driving anyone other than a few out west. They just bring a lot to the table overall.”
After the Tar Heels, Finebaum pointed to a debate between Miami, Florida State and Clemson, but the Tigers don’t bring that much. For starters, Clemson doesn’t add anything from a geographical footprint because South Carolina also offers that.
Finebaum said the Seminoles aren’t as attractive as they think they are, and offer a similar geographic case as Clemson. That leaves Miami, and Finebaum explained that it’s not only an important part of the country, but most importantly it’s populated, too.
Paul @Finebaum of the @SECNetwork joined the guys on @MacandCube to discuss which ACC school the SEC should target if the conference continues to expand.
Whole interview: https://t.co/bTN3IaIeW5 pic.twitter.com/FFNyOhkTXF
— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) May 22, 2023
They all will be part of the 40 or so that make up the Super League at some point in the next 20 years or so.
20 years? Try in the next 3-5 years.
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The big win for the SEC would be to grab UNC and Virginia or Virginia Tech. Adds two markets plus Washington DC.
Adds some great basketball value by continuing a quality rivalry between Virginia (if not Tech) and UNC, as well as adding annual games against UNC for UK, which is great TV money.
Football wise, it’s not adding much right now in terms of competition on the field, but that’s in comparison to what’s already here. When you’re measuring up to schools like UGA, Bama, LSU, et al, nothing football wise is gonna make you say “Dang we need them right now”, but they all have good fan bases, and fit the footprint, and programs can be built.
The Big 10 will be the ones that go after UNC and Virginia the hardest due to their academic standards and compatibility.
Yes, I concur, which is why if further expansion is still on the table, the SEC needs to head the B1G off at the pass on UNC.
If UNC and UVA get plucked by the B1G, then you’d have to go with the leftovers of Virginia Tech and either NC State or Wake Forest (I’d assume Duke would go with UNC to the Big Ten), which, as far as leftovers go, aren’t bad, but they’re not as good.
As GeauxTigers mentioned below, Clemson and FSU would be the SEC’s first calls. Then, I think NC State, Va Tech, and Miami would be considered. UNC, Duke, and UVA would probably elect to go with the Big Ten over the SEC given the academic side of things. Teams like Wake and Boston College will be on the outside looking in.
I agree with him as well. My preference is UVA and UNC, and mostly for selfish reasons.
1. Obvious built-in basketball rivalry for UK with UNC
2. UVA is a perfect all-sports rivalry for UK
3. I live in Big Ten Country, and I’d love to see them mope around and panic and try to grab UConn if UVA and UNC elect to join the SEC
I agree with Standard…
UVA will be a better fit for the Big 10 because of academics. Same thing for UNC.
Miami, FSU, Clemson are better fits for the SEC, regardless of markets already taken up by current SEC schools. Va Tech and NC State could be good fits for the SEC as well, but with WVU already in the Big 12, would VT follow them there?
Adding the U would draw in the criminal element crowd. Adding in FSU would quite possibly get coach Prime.
I’ve never cared for expansions, but if we are going to add … why not welcome Tulane back in? They were a founding member of the SEC, New Orleans is a fantastic city that loves football and they beat USC and Lincoln Riley in the Cotton Bowl last year!
Miami shouldn’t even be america….
Concerning only the football element of ACC teams Clemson & Florida State are the only two(2) ACC schools that have and can be competitive vs. SEC teams. But looking at the geographical aspect that creates a new set of wants & needs. Considering Virginia and Virginia Tech they are more situated in the B1G. Academically UNC-Chapel Hill and Virginia are the two(2) excellent ACC schools.
How many teams does the SEC need? We have enough average teams in the conference and plenty of elite programs. Adding teams that don’t bring up the average team payout from the media rights deal are actually a drag on the rest of the conference. I see no reason to go beyond 16.
The ACC just revised it’s $$$$$ model to reward an ACC school that plays in the postseason. So the Commissioner is trying to save the league from an exodus of the 7 schools.