Looking back at 1993 conference realignment predictions

The past two summers have been filled with uncertainty as conference realignment and expansion has taken the NCAA by storm. This summer, USC and UCLA were accepted into the Big Ten, just a year after Texas and Oklahoma became set to join the SEC. In the midst of present day conference realignment, ESPN’s Bill Connelly took a look into the past to look at some previous predictions from 1993.

Connelly tweeted an image, which was a screenshot of previous conference realignment predictions in 1993 from Daily News writer Mike Kern. Kern’s predictions surely had a lot of interesting selections to look back on now, and he even nailed some of his guesses during the process.

Everyone is wondering what’s next for college athletics right now. The NCAA landscape could again be about to shift in a big way, and there are more questions than answers at this point in time. But while we all wait for the next domino to fall, here is a look back at the previous predictions for conference realignment.

From 1993. The batting average here wasn't good, but a world with Cincinnati and Memphis in the SEC and Tulsa in the Big 16 is one I would enjoy living in. pic.twitter.com/oZSAwzzvkU

— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) July 25, 2022

A look back at conference realignment predictions from 1993

Big East

Current teams at the time: Villanova, St. John’s, Connecticut, Providence, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Boston College, Miami, Pittsburgh

Predicted additions: Temple, Rutgers, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, DePaul

The Big East largely remains in tact today, though a lot of the teams that were currently in the conference in 1993 are now elsewhere. This prediction had Notre Dame as a new member in all sports except for football, which is a near mirror image of the present day Fighting Irish, just now in the ACC.

SEC

Current teams at the time: Alabama, Florida, LSU, Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Arkansas

Predicted additions: Cincinnati, Memphis State

The SEC also mostly remains in tact today, though there are some new teams now. Cincinnati is currently in the American, but will be joining the Big 12 in a couple of years. Memphis State, now known as Memphis, also plays in the American right now.

Big Ten

Current teams at the time: Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State

Predicted addition: Missouri

Today, Missouri is part of the SEC rather than the Big Ten. There are a couple of present day Big Ten teams missing from this prediction, but in all fairness nobody really could have guessed where things would be heading.

Pac-10

Current teams at the time: UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State

Predicted additions: BYU, Colorado

The Pac-10 might be the most accurate of Kern’s 1993 conference realignment predictions. Colorado is now a member of the conference, which is now known as the Pac-12. BYU will be part of the next wave of teams in the Big 12, instead.

Big 8/Southwest consoloidation

Current teams at the time: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas, Houston, Rice, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech

Predicted additions: Tulane, Tulsa

This is now essentially the current Big 12, with a couple of exceptions. Nebraska eventually joined the Big Ten, while Texas A&M joined the SEC. Houston will be part of the Big 12 in a couple of years, while SMU remains in the American as of right now.

ACC

Current teams at the time: North Carolina, NC State, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech

Predicted addition: Louisville

The ACC has grown bigger over the years, and as of right now includes Notre Dame in all sports but football, rather than the Big East as was the case in this prediction. Louisville did join the ACC eventually, while Maryland ultimately departed for the Big Ten.