If SEC expands again, consider 4 ACC teams. But what about Notre Dame football? | Toppmeyer

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Greg Sankey could have said: We’re not interested in further expansion.

He didn’t say that.

When I asked the SEC commissioner this week about the conference’s appetite for additional growth beyond 16 teams, Sankey kept the door cracked to the idea.

I should add, he didn’t express a rabid desire to expand immediately. But I exited SEC spring meetings thinking that if the right schools were available and not bound by media rights agreements with their current conference, the SEC might have interest.

“Our focus has been on our 16,” Sankey said, “but I pay attention (to the landscape).”

The question is: Which schools would pique the SEC’s interest? This conference doesn’t expand for the sake of expansion. There’s no Rutgers in the SEC’s membership.

A few ACC members, though, might intrigue the SEC, if those schools can unlock an escape hatch within the ACC’s sticky media rights deal that so far has prevented defections.

Conference realignment lingers on the mind of my devoted readers.

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Also, I touched a nerve recently by suggesting Notre Dame — and its accommodating schedule — looms as the top threat to the SEC qualifying more than four teams for the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Let’s answer some mail.

Nolen writes: There’s only four possible teams (for SEC expansion). FSU; Clemson; N Carolina, & the Red Sox of CFB (Notre Dame).

Miami? I’d rather have UCF. Miami has “no” fans. Yes, they can buy a team, but some DII schools have more loyal fans.

My response: I agree with three of your four: Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina.

Notre Dame remains an unlikely fit for the SEC. If…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/sec-expands-again-consider-4-100158033.html

Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-06-02 10:01:58

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