Junction

Florida State, Clemson, and Georgia Tech are guaranteed non-invites because they do not add any television markets and Florida, USCe, and Georgia have a gentleman's agreement to vote against any of the three. Slive is known to only move forward on big decisions if it is at least an 11 school yea vote. The frontrunners as heard here in the heart of SEC country (Nashville) is A&M, Virginia Tech, and Duke/UNC. Missouri, NC State, and Virginia are second tier options, but the SEC is in the driver's seat this cycle. They can be picky. A&M and V.Tech will be great cultural fits, and Duke/UNC will help the academic standing while adding the burgeoning North Carolina markets. I hope we don't settle for NC State.

The Virginia Tech would seem to be the most appealing, to add the DC market as well as no in state rival already in the conference. Clemson, Florida State are in the same boat as Georgia Tech no new markets, even though both of these teams are a heads and shoulders above Georgia Tech. But with them would their fellow in state rival accept them in the SEC. There will be no movement with OU without OSU, I will bet a lot on that.

So if its just one team I could see VT is my vote.

For 16 teams my vote is VT, UNC, and Missouri, this move would create maximum amount of exposer for the SEC in many new markets. This move would make the envy of all college athletics.

Ceaux, I would be happy with VT, UNC, and Missouri. UNC has the school system to deal with just like the Oklahoma and Kansas schools; it is hard to move them. Without saying it, the SEC really wants to help Vanderbilt succeed in football because they can't get rid of them (founding member). Duke and Vandy already play football often as non-conference, and adding A&M, Duke, UNC, and either V Tech or Missouri would shift the SEC as the best basketball school as well as football. Very enticing. I think UNC was a guarantee until all the football issues came up. However, that may mean the SEC can buy low at the moment. We shall see. This conversation literally takes up a quarter of talk show time around here. I am still not giving up that Slive will coordinate a power play that brings Texas to the SEC along with A&M. The SEC does split revenues evenly for TV, but each school has total control (and profits) from other multimedia. Texas has got to know where the wind is blowing, and they are going to eventually end up in the PAC, Big 10, or SEC. I hope they come to the SEC so it gives everybody someone to hate along with Florida.

tu doesnt want to compete. It will not go to the SEC. If they go anywhere it will be PAC.

I would go with 14 teams and take Va Tech (and us of course). The addition of Va Tech would open up that market and bring another school similar to us into the fold. It would be fun to play them and they're a good team year in and year out.

Might as well throw the tu out of that picture right there.

Considering Texas has a winning record against the SEC, your argument is a little hollow

Texas is 6-8 against the SEC since 1974.

Most of those listed (Ga Tech, Florida St, Clemson, Louisville) have "zero" chance of entry, and will be blocked by their SEC instate counterparts. And another west team will only happen if they go to a 16 team conference, which is not likely for a while either.

On the otherhand, there's no mention of West Virginia. They bring many of the same attributes as VT, but with no instate political baggage to contend with as VT and UVA. Look for the Mountaineers to join the SEC before any of those other options.

That would take a lot cause the Big East still has it's auto bid

I really don't think 16 teams is something the SEC wants to do at this point. There are way too many logistical issues and the SEC doesn't want to be seen as the conference that starts a massive shift in college sports. I really think they go to 14.

Obviously, A&M would be team 13. The SEC could add a 14th team from the west such as OU, OSU, or Mizzou but this would require moving Auburn to the East and would really mess with traditional rivalries (bama/auburn, bama/tenn). So it's very likely team 14 is in the East.

Florida St, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Clemson are all out because they would be blocked by instate schools. Taking all this into account, it seems clear that the team would have to be from North Carolina, Virginia, or possibly West Virginia or Maryland and these are the only states that would be remotely in the SEC's footprint. This would leave possible candidates as:

UNC
Duke
NC State
Wake Forest
East Carolina
Virginia
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Maryland

Duke and Wake are obviously out because they don't place much value on football and tend to look down on the academics of the SEC. Maryland would also be unlikely because they are too "northern" and also aren't nearly as football-crazy as the rest of the SEC. Virginia seems unlikely as well; they are a founding member of the ACC and are closer to Wake Forest than Virginia Tech in terms of culture. East Carolina would jump at the first chance to go to the SEC and culturaly would be a great fit, but they simply just do not have the facilities or name recognition to earn serious consideration. I do believe that they would be a great fit for the Big East though.

North Carolina would be an ideal candidate, but their rivalries with Duke and their desire to remain a strong academic reputation would cause some higher ups to scoff at an SEC invite. While the SEC would welcome them, their tobacco road roots would likely keep this from happening.

NC State is in a simillar boat in terms of history, but would be more willing to leave the ACC for the same reasons A&M is - frustration with their fellow instate school who they (rightly) feel is treated better. Virginia Tech would be extremely high on the SEC's radar because of the DC market and its stron success on the field. However, they do seem determined to remain in the ACC that they fought so long to join. Instate politics also complicate the issue as well and a Virginia/VT split may be impossible.

The final possibility, and I think the most likely, is West Virginia. While it is almost outside the SEC footprint, it is relatiively close to and could develop rivalries with Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. It has a passionate fanbase, a 60k stadium, is the flagship university of it's state (like the majority of SEC schools), has experienced plenty of on-field success (2-0) in BCS games, and would be an easier target being in the Big East and any ACC school.

All this being said, I think team #14 is, based on likliness to happen is:

West Virginia
Virginia Tech -(the public denials may be misleading)
NC State
North Carolina
Virginia
East Carolina
FSU/Clemson/GT/Louisville
Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St.

Totally agree I think markets are way overblown in this, particularly with the SEC. The product on the field has made the SEC what it is. Almost none of our schools are in major markets, but tend to do very well. The Tuscaloosa market isn't very large, yet Alabama is a recognized nationwide. I think the SEC goes for a team that is a fit on the field as well as culturally. Geography will play a part too.

I really don't think the SEC is interested in A&M because of its markets (although it certainly doesn't hurt). They like A&M because of its passionate fanbase, production, and recruiting potential.