NCAA Conference Expansion: West Virginia To the SEC?

Conference expansion is quickly becoming an annoying subject. It's right up there with the hysteria-causing, nausea-inducing final week before National Signing Day.

Yet, this expansion talk, which most of it has turned out to be, just talk, has the potential to rock the college football landscape.

The past week has set into motion what could be the largest sweeping change to college football in the last 30 years.

What we know for a fact is that Colorado has joined the PAC 10. Nebraska to the Big Ten is supposed to become official tomorrow, although that remains to be seen.

Everything else you have heard or seen is completely unsubstantiated and speculative.

There are rumors floating around every conference in the land—especially the SEC.

Some around the conference are arrogant enough to believe that the SEC would have to do nothing, even if the three other major conferences were to go to 16 teams. That's simply not true.

SEC Comissioner, Mike Slive, would absolutely not allow the other BCS conferences to expand without taking action of his own.

Here are 10 potential choices that Slive has either reportedly talked to or just makes sense for the SEC to pursue.

Oklahoma

This is one program that has been linked to the SEC in the last few hours. Once again, that link is nothing more than speculation among anonymous sources at this point, but the link is there, nonetheless.

Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione reportedly stated that Oklahoma would likely follow whatever Texas does. Whether that's true or even good business is open to interpretation.

You judge by these comments whether to believe or not, "I think it would be a horrendous decision for OU and Texas to break up," Castiglione said. "We're going to stick together if it's at all possible."

SEC Level of Interest: High

Chance that it happens: 10 percent

Texas

If you choose to believe all the reports, Texas is headed for the PAC 10. Who can blame them after seeing what Alabama did to them last January? Who would want to face that kind of competition in the regular season?

Truth is, Texas is the top program in America right now. Their prestige is through the roof. The recruiting is tremendous. The coaches are spectacular. Texas has the power to save the Big 12, to make the PAC 10 one of the best conferences in the nation, and/or to completely revolutionize the Big Ten.

If it goes to the SEC, the program would be just one of the many premier programs in the conference.

SEC Level of Interest: High

Chance of it happening: 10 percent

Texas A & M

It has been said in recent days that Texas and Texas A&M are basically a package deal, along with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

However, over the past 24 hours it has been reported that the SEC and A&M have had serious discussions. So much that Texas A&M is potentially seriously considering the SEC's offer.

Reports over the last few hours indicate that the Aggies program would be committing college athletics suicide if it left the Texas/Oklahoma foursome. The recent reports have stated that those four teams, and any other Texas team for that matter, would basically "blackball" A&M when it comes to scheduling in all sports.

One reason to think this could happen is Texas A&M regent, Gene Stallings. The former Alabama national champion head coach and A&M grad is reported to be actively pushing the case for an Aggie addition to the SEC.

SEC Level of Interest: Very High

Chance of it happening: 51 percent

TCU

This one is complete speculation on my part. But it's good speculation.

If the SEC cannot get Texas to join Texas A&M in joining the SEC, why not bring TCU on board?

TCU is a rising program that has been rather successful for much of the past 15 years. It has never shed the stigma of belonging to a less-than-stellar conference.

It has fought for respect and the school finally realized tremendous success with a Fiesta Bowl bid at the end of the 2009 season.

Plus, if expanding into new television markets is really that important, Dallas, TX would be an amazing place to start.

SEC Level of Interest: Complete speculation—No Idea if the SEC is even interested. But it would make a lot of sense.

Chances of it happening: I have no idea.

Texas Tech

Texas Tech looks like the fifth wheel to the Big 12 foursome of Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. Not that it actually is viewed as a fifth wheel by those four schools, but the perception nationally is just that.

Would Tommy Tuberville want back in the SEC? Would it even matter what the head coach wants?

If the SEC really wants to move into Texas then Texas Tech should be a top consideration.

SEC Level of Interest: Some, but there hasn't been enough talk about it to determine just how much.

Chances of it happening: 10 percent

Virginia Tech

If the SEC strikes out with the Texas schools, the conference could go east.

Virginia Tech could be the top priority if the SEC is forced to go closer to the Atlantic. There have been rumors floating that Tech is one of the potential choices of commissioner Slive.

Blacksburg is just a short ride up I-81 from Knoxville, TN. Tennessee and Virginia Tech have tried to spark up a rivalry over the years, but it has never come to fruition.

SEC Level of Interest: Based on Rumor, Very High.

Chances of it happening: 55 percent

Florida State

These rumors have floated for years. And for years, Florida State has stayed in the ACC. Those past rumors, however, have never reached the level of the current rumors.

Virginia Tech might make the most sense, but Florida State is one of the most likely additions on the eastern side.

Of course, one would wonder why Florida State would leave the ACC for the much tougher SEC. But the notoriety that comes with a move to the nation's top conference should be enough to lure the 'Noles.

SEC Level of Interest: Presumably Very High

Chances of it happening: 60 percent

Clemson

Clemson is another natural fit for the SEC. It's a geographical fit, being just a couple hours from Atlanta and just a little further than that to Charlotte, NC.

One would think that Clemson would jump at the opportunity to join the SEC. It hasn't had the past success that Florida State has had, so the apprehension shouldn't be near as much as what Florida State or Virginia Tech would face.

SEC Level of Interest: Presumably High

Chances of it happening: 70 percent

North Carolina/Duke

Obviously this one would make much more sense on the basketball side of things. Because of that whole basketball thing, there's no doubt that the SEC cannot have and will not get UNC by themselves.

UNC has a Siamese twin named Duke.

For basketball reasons alone, this would be a major coup. UNC doesn't have a bad football program either. As a matter of fact, many believe that this year's UNC team could win the ACC—something that would not happen in the SEC, for a very long time.

I could see both jumping to the SEC, but I have nothing more than speculation to think that it could actually happen.

SEC Level of Interest: I would presume, Very High

Chances of it happening: Less than 10 percent

West Virginia

This one doesn't make a ton of sense geographically, as Morgantown, WV is not in the southern region, but much of the state is considered close enough to the south to overlook that for now.

There have been rumors and speculation surrounding the program and the SEC for about a month now.

West Virginia certainly brings a tremendous program and a seriously rabid fan base to the table.

The program has won multiple Big East titles over the past decade, but it would quickly learn that the SEC is not the Big East.

SEC Level of Interest: Presumably High

Chances of it happening: 49 percent

Other Possibilities

Miami—Multiple experts are saying that there's no way nine of the SEC's 12 teams would approve FSU and Miami. If FSU turns down the SEC, look for Miami to jump at the opportunity to join.

Interest: Presumably High
Chances: 45 percent

Georgia Tech—Georgia already has the Atlanta market pretty well covered. Tech makes sense in more ways than one, but the lack of a new market makes this unlikely. It should definitely be considered as a final resort, however, especially if the SEC ends up one short.

Interest: Medium
Chances: 25 percent

Louisville—Again, this makes perfect sense geographically, but it doesn't exactly fit the bill as a premier college football addition to the nation's greatest conference. In basketball, however it would be a huge gain.

Interest: Unknown
Chances: 25 percent

Missouri—The Big Ten reportedly no longer wants the Tigers. It's relatively close to Arkansas and would be a fine geographical fit.

SEC Interest: Unknown
Chances: 10 percent

Memphis—I realize this might make you laugh. It did the same thing to me at first. Memphis is a giant, heaping ball of potential in a fertile recruiting area. With a renewed dedication to the football program, this could be a match made in SEC heaven. Not to mention, their basketball program is no slouch.

Interest: Unknown
Chances: Less than 10 percent