Former ESPN analyst calls Virginia Tech a ‘suitable’ team for the SEC

It seems like most college football fans are fed up with the conference realignment, but it could be a while before things settle down, especially considering what’s happening in the ACC right now with Florida State. Not much has been said about where Virginia Tech would fit into all the moves going on, but former ESPN analyst David Pollack had a suggestion for where the Hokies should end up:

“You know who fits in the SEC? NC State and Virginia Tech. Those are teams that, if you go to those games, those are SEC environments. Those are great shows, passionate college football fans, and you get those markets without compromising the top of those markets. I can see those two teams being there.”

While Virginia Tech would certainly be interesting in the ACC, it doesn’t appear the SEC is looking to expand anytime soon.

While Florida State and Clemson want out and are reportedly eyeing the Big Ten or SEC, will the other conferences want them? According to a report from Brett McMurphy at Action Network, the Big Ten and SEC are unlikely to add Florida State if it leaves the ACC and the ACC survives because “adding FSU doesn’t make financial sense, there’s no need for expansion, and “they’ve been a disruptive partner,”

McMurphy added that “If/when the Seminoles break away from the ACC, their best choices would be to join the Big Ten or the SEC due to the vast difference in television rights revenue,” sources said.

However, there are several concerns about adding Florida State, sources said. Those reasons include that it doesn’t make financial sense for either league, “there’s no appetite for more expansion” and FSU has shown “it’s not a good partner.”

If the ACC implodes, McMurphy says there are two other schools that could get more attention than Clemson or Florida State.

“If the ACC ceases to exist and the floodgates open, allowing for a mass exodus from the ACC, North Carolina and Virginia would be highly sought after by the SEC and the Big Ten, sources said.”

This was of course a topic on the opening day of SEC Media Days and when asked about it, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had the following to say about the future of the SEC:

“16 is our today, and 16 is our tomorrow,” Sankey said.

“We are focusing on our 16, period,” the commissioner reiterated.

There has been much speculation about whether the SEC will add Florida State and Clemson in the future, but according to college football analyst Paul Finebaum, there is another school at the top of the SEC’s wish list:

“I mean, I think that’s one of the toughest areas,” Finebaum said. “Listen, Greg (Sankey) is very smart. He knows that’s there. I’m sure he has a pretty standard line that goes back to what you heard from him three years ago. So I don’t think, even if you ask, he’s going to go very far or give away very much.”

“North Carolina is at the top,” Finebaum said. “I think it’s a little bit of an unknown after that. There’s a million different theories. Would North Carolina take someone? Or would they just stay put?”

It would be interesting to see Virginia Tech’s place in all of this, especially if the ACC were to implode. For now, it’s best to sit back and watch it all fall into place.