With the Senate passing the Protect College Sports Act, the conversation about the future of the ACC has been renewed. Even though it is unlikely the bill passes the House, the ACC is in more danger than it has ever been in.
So, if we look into the future, who are the four teams that fit into the SEC and would make the move?
4 ACC teams that would be a perfect fit for the SEC
Miami Hurricanes
Throughout this exercise, the Big Ten is going to be a factor. If the ACC were to see a mass exodus, the Big Ten isn't going to sit on its hands and let the SEC poach the best teams available. But for the Miami Hurricanes, the SEC makes the most sense.
The SEC would already have a rivalry game against Florida available, and if Florida State (spoiler) joins, that would be a dynamic great for college football. Would there potentially be a conversation about three Florida teams being in the same conference and what issues that could be bring? Perhaps. But if super-conferences are taking shape, that argument most likely will be less of an issue than it was before (i.e. Texas and Texas A&M).
The Big Ten's case is worth mentioning: Miami has joined the Association of American Universities, alongside Notre Dame, which is a credential that Big Ten presidents have used as a requirement (most of the time). The Hurricanes would also give the conference a Florida base and a genuine Southeast recruiting presence, plus another national football brand.
At the end of the day, Miami looks more natural in the SEC, and the Big Ten could decide its southeastern expansion is better built around Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Georgia Tech.
Florida State Seminoles
Geography, history, fan base, recruiting and the rivalry with Florida all point to the SEC for FSU. Using the same reasoning for Miami, the SEC isn't going to pass up on one of the biggest college football brands because of state overlap. Or at least they shouldn't.
The Big Ten could try to swoop in and snag a Florida team, but if they do attempt that, Miami will most likely be the program that they shoot for.
Clemson Tigers
Clemson should be automatic, right? It felt like Clemson was a de facto SEC squad in the mid-to-late 2010s and the existing rivalry with South Carolina offers a natural scheduling option.
Clemson would need essentially no cultural adjustment, and the only argument against them is that the Tigers do not give the SEC a new television market. But the duplication argument has been thrown out the window at this point.
Clemson also does not fit the Big Ten's institutional profile as cleanly as North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia Tech or Miami. But, once again, they won't just step aside during the arms race.
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina is an interesting chess piece when it comes to this conversation.
The SEC would enter a new state, the Tar Heels have an enormous basketball brand, and with HC Bill Belichick at the helm there is certainly some promise with the football team. UNC isn't nearly as strong of a football brand as some of the other teams on this list, and maybe Duke fits better, but UNC is a solid fourth choice, and the SEC money could bring them to another level.
From the Big Ten perspective, North Carolina would be a major prize. They are an AAU member, an elite academic school and an elite athletic department in a new state. During the 2023 realignment discussions, North Carolina and Virginia were widely reported as primary Big Ten targets and that could mean something if movement is revisited.
The Big 12 deserves a mention in this case as well. If there is a scenario where the musical chairs ends for the Big Ten and the SEC, and North Carolina is left without a home, then the Big 12 would scoop UNC up.
The final verdict is that UNC would be a great regional fit for the SEC, and while teams like Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke and SMU will have something to say about it, North Carolina is the fourth team on this list.
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