With conference realignment the hot topic in college athletics, rumors are swirling about the future for college football and basketball.
Oregon and Washington left for the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State and Utah left for the Big 12. Those seismic changes took place in slightly less than 24 hours. As for the ACC, the conference is intact although some members may be looking to leave.
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham reassured the staff the Tar Heels have no plans of leaving the conference. However, if they do, there will be interest from other conferences.
John Talty of 247Sports wrote on the state of the SEC and who it might pursue. The two teams mentioned? UNC and Virginia.
However, multiple sources have pointed to North Carolina and Virginia as schools in which the SEC would be interested. Adding UNC and UVA would get the SEC into two new, well-populated states, bring in well-regarded academic institutions and allow the conference to maintain its geographic congruency. The Big Ten is also expected to be interested in UNC and UVA should the two schools become available.
The obstacle for any program in the ACC to leave is the grant of rights, which is at the forefront of conversation right now. Florida State has expressed interest in leaving, and there was the report that seven schools were researching potential departures, including the three mentioned above.
But at this point, it feels like there is a long ways to go before anyone breaks off from the conference.
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