The 5 teams the SEC should be looking to grab
Rumors of North Carolina joining the SEC aren’t just smoke — they’re part of the wildfire that’s about to engulf college sports again. Conferences are going to blend and meld to create more and more revenue. The Tar Heels bring blue-blood basketball, solid football, and Olympic sport dominance. But if the SEC is serious about growing its empire, it won’t stop at Chapel Hill.
Here are five programs that make the most sense to join UNC in an expanded Southeastern Conference:
1. Clemson
Football pedigree? Check. ACC championships? Check. Natural rival with South Carolina? Double check. Clemson brings another perennial contender to the SEC football schedule and has rising programs in baseball and hoops.
2. Miami (FL)
“The U” isn’t what it once was, but the brand still carries national weight. Adding Miami locks down another chunk of Florida and gives the SEC a shot of swagger across all sports. Plus, Miami-Florida as an annual SEC East rivalry? Yes, please.
3. Memphis
Don’t laugh — the Tigers have regional rivalries (Kentucky, Tennessee, Mizzou), a resurgent basketball brand under Penny Hardaway, and sneaky-good football. It's a win for recruiting and travel logistics. I mean seeing Penn State cross the country to go play Oregon in conference makes no sense.
4. McNeese State
A dark horse, but don’t ignore the Cowboys. They’ve been a postseason staple in basketball and would bring instant SEC flavor with built-in rivalries against LSU and the Texas schools. Plus, their ceiling is higher than most mid-majors.
5. Western Kentucky
WKU is solid across the board and fits the SEC map. In a world where national TV matchups matter more than regional allegiances, Western offers both — and keeps your footprint strong in the Bluegrass without stretching coast to coast.
Honorable mentions: Virginia Tech, Virginia, NC State, Duke, Tulane (but BBN wants Jon Sumrall at Kentucky first).
If Greg Sankey wants to keep the SEC dominant in both football and basketball without abandoning geography, these five programs offer the best balance of brand, rivalry potential, and all-sport success.