Report: North Carolina, Virginia 'coveted' by Big Ten and SEC in conference realignment

While the Big Ten and SEC are moving to 16 teams in 2024, nobody truly thinks they are done adding teams. More conference realignment with the Power Two is on the way, with dominoes just waiting to fall. According to a report, there are two sticking out more than the others, coming via the ACC.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, North Carolina and Virginia are going to be “coveted” heavily by both the Big Ten and SEC. Thamel points out Notre Dame is the ultimate goal for both conferences but looking past the Fighting Irish, landing UNC and UVA will be a battle.

“This is what makes the prospect of landing North Carolina and Virginia integral in both leagues’ down-the-road expansion plans,” Thamel said. “Outside of Notre Dame, there are no programs that will be as coveted by the SEC and Big Ten thanks to both geography and market.”

Adding North Carolina and Virginia would not be the most exciting football move. Neither program has won a national championship. The last ACC title from the duo came via the Cavaliers in 1995. Surely, Clemson, Florida State, or Miami would suit better from a football perspective.

Thamel says there is more to conference realignment than just on-field success. Both the Big Ten and SEC love the location of the two programs. The states of North Carolina and Virginia having top 15 populations in the United States helps the school’s cause as well.

From a geographical standpoint, both UNC and UVA would have bordering states already in the conference. There is South Carolina for the Tar Heels and Kentucky for the Cavaliers — plus, Tennessee for both.

“North Carolina and Virginia mark a geographic, population and recruiting battleground for the SEC and Big Ten,” Thamel said. “They are desirable media markets and could help with student recruiting, as they are the No. 9 (North Carolina) and No. 12 (Virginia) most populous states in the country. Both North Carolina and Virginia are in contiguous states for both leagues.”

No moves are going to be made anytime soon, especially with the Grants of Rights issues surrounding ACC programs. But once conference realignment with the Big Ten and SEC does begin to ramp back up, two schools are going to be at the forefront. As for who is going to win the battle, we will most likely have to wait a few years to figure it out.