Conference Realignment: 7 Schools Who Should Join SEC Before Missouri

The Missouri Tigers have been openly vying to become the 14th member of the SEC since Texas A&M received its invite. While the future expansion of the SEC seems inevitable (despite the inaction at Monday's meeting between SEC heads), the Tigers are not the best competitive fit.

The conference weighs many different factors in considering a school for inclusion; this article will look solely at football compatibility.

Here are seven teams that would be better choices to join the SEC.

Oklahoma Sooners/Texas Longhorns

The bitter rivals would have to be a package deal should they choose to jump ship. It's no secret that the Big 12 is hurting; TCU joining isn't enough to stop the bleeding. OU and UT were previously rumored to be considering a move to the PAC-12. That fell through, but the SEC would be wise to lure them in. Either the Sooners or Longhorns have participated in six of the last 11 National Championship games. Their arrival would make the strongest conference truly dominant.

Of course, this would give the conference 15 teams. It could become a 16-team superconference with the addition of...

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys have taken a large step forward in recent years with respect to their national profile. Joining the SEC with Oklahoma would let the more-relevant-than-ever Bedlam Series to continue. Also, who wouldn't want to see their explosive offensive attack against the likes of LSU and Alabama?

West Virginia Mountaineers

Big East Football is going out of business: every team must go. This is an optimal opportunity for the conference's premier team to move to a real power conference. The SEC would add a school with both a rabid fanbase and a competitive squad.

Clemson Tigers

These are the Tigers the SEC should covet. The ACC is expanding, too, but it hasn't fielded a BCS title contender in years. Dabo Swinney's club is on the rise; they should take advantage of their current success to join a superior conference. Even better, Clemson already has a built-in rival in South Carolina.

USC Trojans

Clearly geography is no longer relevant to conference planning, right? This would allow USC to return to national prominence in a flash. Plus, Lane Kiffin only was able to inspire hate in SEC fanbases for one season. This would give him more precious more time.

Boise State Broncos

Every year fans are forced to hear talking heads wax poetic about how Boise State shouldn't be in the national championship hunt. Their reasoning? The Broncos couldn't compete week in and week out against the SEC. This would be our chance to find out for ourselves. Not to mention that the blue turf would make a great addition to the conference's iconic stadiums.