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I've been right before and I'll be right again- VT and NC State will go to the SEC. Current SEC membership won't allow a school from a state that already has an SEC team- so forget FSU, Clemson, GT, Louisville, etc.

GiddyUp wrote:Love all the realignment experts we have here, too funny

was just thinking the same thing.

ill be right on this one also....there is no way Florida state will go Big 12. SEC will take them in before they let that happen.

I think the SEC would be making a huge mistake in allowing the Big 12 into Florida but I see no indication that FSU is even being considered. Maybe they are bluffing

gostangs wrote:ill be right on this one also....there is no way Florida state will go Big 12. SEC will take them in before they let that happen.

Florida would throw a fit and all of those schools (UF, UGA, UK, and South Carolina) said they would block the candidacy of a school from a state already in the SEC footprint.

The SEC is already in Florida in a big way- they will add teams that increase their TV footprint. FSU doesn't do that.

Interesting summary of the dynamics with ESPN vested in ACC and role of the media in future of all conferences, including how BE landed back with ESPN.

http://www.bcinterruption.com/2013/2/23 ... rida-state

ESPN might drive a brinks truck up to the ACC headquarters, but FSU, Clemson don't like being thought of as unqualified for National Championship because they come from a weak football conference. And UNC, UVA, GT know that the B1G can move in a number of directions. They could move on UConn or BC to get their network into New England. They could move to OU and UT and filet the Big XII. Or they could move to KU and SMU/UH to move into Texas. More TV sets there. Their map is in the center east of the country. They can go NE or SE or SW. While this is about money, its also about not being the last guy in an empty train station. Personally, I'd love to see the ACC strengthened. If that happens, then the Big XII, SEC and B1G have fewer options and we're one of those fewer options.

Can someone explain the draw of Clemson to all of these conversations? South Carolina is a small market that already has another major team. They won't bring that many TV Sets. Are they a quality program? Yes, but they are more of a regional brand that is typically a disappointment in the ACC. The recruiting market in the State is pretty picked over by all of the NC and SC schools - so it is not opening new markets for anybody. If all of this realignment crap is about money and access to kids, then Clemson doesn't offer that much. as it stands 90% of both SC schools rosters are FLA kids. I just don't get the attraction.

Right now its whose the best left on the table and for the Big 12 they woulds be lucky as hell to get Florida St. Clemson and Miami or Georgia Tech considering they would be getting better programs than the conferences picking first (SEC) and second (Big 10). Clemson has 80,000 rabid fans in a new state to the Big 12. It gives West Virginia a rivalry and adding all those schools would be an incredible home run for the Big 12 batting third. 3-4 brand new sizeable markets with quality football programs that compete for the Top 10

stc9 wrote:Can someone explain the draw of Clemson to all of these conversations? South Carolina is a small market that already has another major team. They won't bring that many TV Sets. Are they a quality program? Yes, but they are more of a regional brand that is typically a disappointment in the ACC. The recruiting market in the State is pretty picked over by all of the NC and SC schools - so it is not opening new markets for anybody. If all of this realignment crap is about money and access to kids, then Clemson doesn't offer that much. as it stands 90% of both SC schools rosters are FLA kids. I just don't get the attraction.

Clemson gets significant interest in Georgia and NC. So they may be "in" South Carolina but they draw outside their borders.

Probably the best comparison for them is Auburn. Tradition rich program with a very large fanbase that is from a small state.

Recruiting wise it offers games near the NC-SC-TN-GA recruiting hotbeds.

However the most important factor is they deliver in terms of tv ratings.

When Maryland played Clemson at M&T stadium in Baltimore, it was like the days when SMU played UT in Dallas. A sea of Orange. Clemson travels well.

I've recently moved to Greenville, SC - which is less than 30 minutes from Clemson. I can tell you for certain that they own half of the state, and USC owns the other half. They have a huge fanbase, sell out every home game, and dominate the sports talk in the region (which includes Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville NC).

I wouldn't discout Clemson any more than schools like UGA, UT, Auburn - schools that dominate at least half of their state, even if located in smaller cities.

Clemson is certainly a much more attractive target than West Virgina, whom the B12 jumped at several years ago

WordUpBU wrote:
Clemson gets significant interest in Georgia and NC. So they may be "in" South Carolina but they draw outside their borders.

Probably the best comparison for them is Auburn. Tradition rich program with a very large fanbase that is from a small state.

Recruiting wise it offers games near the NC-SC-TN-GA recruiting hotbeds.

However the most important factor is they deliver in terms of tv ratings.

OK, but they are drawing Northwest Georgia which isn't highly populated. Drawing from NC with competition from Wake, Duke (ok not a good example), NC, and NCST. I get the argument that they are one of the best remaining, but they are not that great. Don't get me wrong, I like the school. My area of FLA sends a lot of kids there. They love the place almost cult like, except they are not obnoxious like A&M alum.

I think VT would be a better choice for the Big 12. The own the state of VA for football. They are significantly closer to WVA and with the amount of alums in the DC area they would grab that TV market. It offers similar proximity to the same hot beds.

Virginia Tech is likely headed to SEC-and would wait on that opportunity. The schools that are likely to be left for the Big 12 to choose after Big 10 and SEC get who they want FIRST are:

Florida St.
Clemson
Miami
Georgia Tech (unlikely)
Louisville
Duke

Its simply a matter of pecking order and Big 12 will pick third after North Carolina, Virginia, probably Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and North Carolina St are gone.