Big Ten Expansion: ACC

This summer has been a crazy time for college football conferences. Talk of Big Ten expansion has seemed to die down recently with the addition of Nebraska, but don't think that means expansion is dead. With talk ranging everywhere from staying put at 12, to a doomsday scenario of a 20-plus team megaconference, the BTPT blog is here to inject some much needed sanity into the discussion. The following is the first in a series that is a breakdown of every team that has been discussed for BT expansion, from an academic, cultural, geographic, demographic, and atlhletic standpoint. This time, the ACC.

Duke
Pros: This school would be a solid counterpart to Northwestern in terms of size and the fact that it is private. Very influential in the rapidly growing state of North Carolina. Also, the current men's basketball and lacrosse champions. Considered a semi-Ivy. Could be helpful in recruiting both students and athletes in the South.

Cons: Far away from many current Big Ten schools, not contiguous with any other Big Ten states. Not much of a football program to speak of. Also possibly pretentious.

Georgia Tech
Pros: Also in a state that is growing very rapidly. Highly respected in engineering, and a top ten public school. Has solid football and basketball programs. Most recent member of the AAU. Could be helpful in recruiting both students and athletes in the South.

Cons: Also far away from other Big Ten schools. Might not have as much pull in the Atlanta market, because it is largely an SEC town.

Maryland
Pros: Member of the AAU, and contiguous with Pennsylvania. Might be the ACC school most willing to make the switch, which could produce a domino effect. Has some pull in the DC/Baltimore market. Strong in basketball, as well as non-revenue sports like soccer and lacrosse.

Cons: Might not have that much pull in the DC/Baltimore market. Also has a very bad football program, and doesn't open up much in the way of recruiting for other Big Ten schools. 

UNC
Pros: See Duke for basketball and North Carolina. A top five public school that would fit in well with Michigan and Wisconsin and the like.

Cons: Mostly the same as Duke. Although their football team has come up in recent years, it is probably still not on the same level as the Big Ten, and it is still kind of far away geographically.

UVA
Pros: Also in the South, in a relatively large state. A very good academic fit with Michigan and Wisconsin and the like. Revenue sports (football, basketball) aren't awful, as well as being good at soccer and lacrosse.

Cons: Kind of far away, and doesn't have a great foothold in the DC/Baltimore market. Revenue sports aren't on the same level as the Big Ten, and the sports it is good at aren't sports Big Ten teams are good at.


The odds of more than one ACC team joining the Big Ten go up if one team does.