Conference Realignment: Big Winners and Losers with Potential ACC Expansion

If you're behind in college football news, The New York Times announced this morning that both Syracuse and Pittsburgh have signed the papers to leave the Big East and join the ACC.  

Currently with 12 teams, the ACC boasts teams such as Viriginia Tech, Florida State and North Carolina.  

Meanwhile, the Big East only has eight football teams (with TCU officially joining next year), but if both Pittsburgh and Syracuse leave, it seems likely that the Big East would no longer be a conference in college football.

Let's take a look at the hypothetical biggest winners and losers from this possible scenario.    

Biggest Loser: Rutgers

Rutgers has been a part of the Big East since 2001, with five winning seasons along the way, but no conference championships.  

The argument has been made that RU simply is not a Division I caliber football team, which many would say is harsh, but it certainly is difficult to imagine the Scarlet Knights competing in any other conference. 

Even with a shut down defense and tons of playmakers on offense, the Knights will likely continue to be plagued by a poor offensive line for seasons to come.  

A lack of execution on game day has also unfortunately become common place for RU. 

Should the Big East disband, it is hard to imagine Rutgers being competitive in any other conference given a fairly poor track record.  

Big Winner: Syracuse

Since 2001, the Syracuse Orange has only had two winning seasons.  

However, the long time bottom feeders of the Big East had a long overdue bounce back year in 2010, going 8-5, including defeating Kansas State in a controversial Pinstripe Bowl. 

Quarterback Ryan Nassib and wide receiver Van Chew have breathed new life into this offense, and the defense has found a way to do the same thing.

Syracuse would not mind having a step up in competition and more exposure with the ACC.   

Biggest Winner: The ACC

This one is somewhat implied, but the additions of Syracuse and Pittsburgh would be massive to the ACC.  

As previously discussed, Syracuse is a program on the rise, which is also from a big market.  

Pittsburgh has won two Big East titles (one in 2004, one in 2010) and would be an interesting matchup for teams like Virginia Tech and UNC.  

Also, the mere fact that the conference moves up from 12 teams to 14 is huge, simply because it means more competition for every school in the ACC.  

This is a power move by the ACC, and none of their fans are going to be unhappy about it.