SEC Realignment: 5 Candidates That Can Be the SEC's 14th Team

With the recent news of Texas A&M announcing that they will be leaving the Big 12, one has to assume the Aggies have intentions of joining the SEC. 

And if Texas A&M does join the SEC, the ramifications of it could be substantial.

The biggest consequence would be the SEC having to even out the conference with the addition of a 14th team. Teams like Florida State and Missouri have been mentioned in previous talks of SEC expansion, but the SEC has kept their options pretty quiet from the media.

If the Aggies do move to the SEC, here are the five candidates that I believe could be the 14th team added by the SEC.

1. Florida State Seminoles

One of the most-talked about teams in being the SEC's 14th team is the Florida State Seminoles.

Why They Should: The Seminoles seem a likely choice due to their location and the history they have against the Florida Gators.

They also would be another great program to add to an already prestigious conference due to their exceptional talent in several sports including football and baseball. They would bring another nationally-renowned team to the SEC.

Why They Shouldn't: However, one aspect that could hold the Seminoles back from joining the SEC could be their rivalry with the Gators. It would be tough to convince Florida to agree in letting the SEC bring in the Seminoles. Florida would lose the recruiting advantage of being the only Florida team in the SEC as well as the strength of their out of conference schedule.

But Florida is only one team, so it remains to be seen if they can get the support of the other universities. If not, FSU would be a very viable option for SEC expansion.

2. Missouri Tigers

Another team I feel should deserve some consideration is the Missouri Tigers from the Big 12.

Why They Should: Choosing the Tigers for the SEC has the potential to be an excellent choice for the conference. 

Missouri would provide the conference a brand new market, all the way into the Midwest. The Missouri fans are some of the best in the Big 12 right now, and the Tigers have been very competitive in both football and basketball over the last several years.

Why They Shouldn't: It is tough to come up with a legitimate reason the Tigers would be a bad choice for the SEC. The only issue I see the SEC could run into with Missouri in the Big 12 conference. After Texas A&M leaving, it may be tough for the SEC to snag another Big 12 team and move them into their conference. Also, Missouri has been rumored in the past to be part of plans in both the Big 10 and Pac-12 expansion.

3. Clemson Tigers

The SEC also could look at other ACC teams like Clemson for possible expansion.

Why They Should: For a non-SEC team, Clemson certainly makes their presence known throughout SEC country. They often schedule SEC teams such as Auburn in 2010 and 2011, along with their annual match-up against in-state rival South Carolina. 

Not to mention, Clemson is also a force in recruiting, especially in the state of Florida. Every year, it seems like the Tigers score a few big recruits from the Sunshine State. 

Clemson seems like a natural choice as a 14th team for SEC expansion.

Why They Shouldn't: Clemson poses the same problems as Florida State in terms of expansion. It would be tough for South Carolina and several other teams in the SEC to agree to let Clemson in the conference. One reason is the recruiting advantage. As I mentioned before, the Tigers have a recruiting presence in the South, especially in Florida. So if they are in the SEC, that only increases their recruiting chances in the South, which many SEC teams might not like.

And once again, South Carolina would not want Clemson in the conference because of their out-of-conference matchup. If the Tigers joined the SEC, it would significantly decrease the Gamecocks' OOC schedule, which South Carolina would not want.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech would be another great option from the ACC.

Why They Should: Expanding the SEC with the addition of Virginia Tech would be a smart move for the SEC. Not only would the conference receive one of the most prestigious schools in the ACC, but also a legendary football coach and a dedicated fanbase. And the expansion of the SEC market into the state of Virginia would be a smart move for the SEC in terms of marketing their brand to other areas of the country.

Why They Shouldn't: It is tough to come up with any reasons why the Hokies would not be a good candidate for SEC expansion. A move to the conference would certainly give Virginia Tech an advantage in national recruiting and recognition.

5. North Carolina Tar Heels

Finally, the North Carolina Tar Heels could also be a team up for consideration in SEC expansion.

Why They Should: I know North Carolina might seem like an unlikely or odd choice for the SEC, but two things really stick out to me about the Tar Heels for the SEC: it's a new market and basketball. Like Virginia Tech and Clemson, adding North Carolina would allow the SEC to expand into a new state where they can market their brand on an even larger scale. It would give the conference even more credibility in other parts of the Southeast and East coast.

Also, the Tar Heels would bring a fantastic basketball program to the conference. For quite some time, the SEC has been a very inconsistent basketball conference as a whole with the exception of Kentucky. North Carolina would bring a powerhouse basketball team, not to mention one of the most historically prestigious and successful programs. 

Why They Shouldn't: However, adding North Carolina may have more cons than pros. With the recent allegations against the North Carolina football team, it seems like adding the Tar Heels could bring negative publicity to the conference, especially with the NCAA investigating their football team. And with all of the news that LSU's players have been making recently, that might be the last thing the SEC needs right now. 

And with the Tar Heels leaving the ACC, that would hinder their basketball rivalry with Duke, which is one of the most renowned rivalries in the nation. The ACC is one of the best basketball conferences, so North Carolina could be very comfortable with staying where they are at in the ACC.