Good discussion. Conference realignment is a slow-moving train, but itās in motion. Geographically-based cable subscriptions seem much less important than they used to due to cord cutting and streaming. But for the reasons you state ā financial stability, deep pockets, overall success in athletics, and flagship status ā we seem to be a strong P2 candidate. Plus our football and menās hoops programs are trending in the right direction.
I have less of a feel for whether UNC cares whether we come along with them, but hopefully thatās true. The main impediment I see down the road is politicians demanding we take care of little brother before we move out of the house. My hope is that cooler heads prevail and realize having the Hokesters join the Big 12 is the best realistic outcome.
The only concern Iāve had about UVa and P2 expansion in the past was football. We literally check every other box. Having the 2025 we did on the gridiron was importantā¦IMO we were probably desirable enough anyway, but 11 wins, ACCCG appearance and a Gator Bowl win over an SEC opponent came at the right time. Just need to show it wasnāt a 1 year fluke, and 8+ wins can be the norm.
That was the conversation I had earlier this week as well and did not get a clear answer or idea. Clemson is the one no one knows what to do with. I assume theyād probably find a way to squeeze them into the SEC.
actually solid academic university with a new money football team and steadily good but unexciting basketball program in a geographic location that doesnāt make much sense for the other members is sort of the B1Gās bag these days
(they also have a publicly stated goal of becoming an AAU school)
I think this is just a completely different situation than when we had leverage over the ACC in voting for VTās inclusion in expansion. This time we have no leverage, weāre not voting for anyone else. Plus Spanbergerās a UVA alum and not exactly looking for votes from SW VA, even if she plans to run for another statewide office after this one.
Plus itās a new world. Look at Vandy. Schools that have the resources that we do no longer have to be bottom dwellers. Will we regularly compete with LSU, Bama, and UGA? No. But we can be better than a doormat in the SEC.
I think everyone across the board understands the assignment. The UVA/UNC tag team into the next conference is the path forward to get the most out of the new world.
There are still some state legislators with that mentality, but I know for a fact the institution has worked on opening their eyes to the new realities in the past couple years.
Fingers crossed the white witch of Richmond has our back. Good results so far
TB, you and Lambeth are correct about there being no nothing about pairing UVA and VT these days. Mark Warnerās move was motivated by and in the midst of a different time.
I am not really sweating the SEC/B1G debate, because I believe that inside of 2030 there will be a breakaway power football subdivison and that we will be included. VT may as well. It will be essentially pro football AAA with wage scales, etc. Frankly, thatās what Sankey has been pushing for years, and sometimes you have to drive the truck into a ditch before everybody wakes up. The conferences will remain to managed and administrate the rest of college sports, but football will be autonomous.
So this went down last week. He re-entered the portal on the last day.
Ole Miss pretty explicitly broke some tampering rules and Dabo is putting all of that out in the open. I sort of wonder if itās because hasnāt been happy with the NCAA response.
At what point does this becoming visible kill the alumni link to ācollegeā sports. I know older alumni are checking out based on conversations with other schoolsā graduates. I donāt know how connected younger alumni were to begin with, especially in light of Covid experiences. What else is going to drive viewership of less talented players than the pros? Few watch G-league games.
Ranking our portal commits by my personal excitement and expectations (adjusted for position need/importance). Obviously not counting the retained guys. Edited to add some commentary on each.
Brandyn Hillman - bona fide P4 CFP caliber starter
Jekail Middlebrook - I think heās our RB1, love his film
Solomon Beebe - idk what his role is but heās one of the most talented guys in the class
Zion Wilson - big coup to get a DT with his production.
Matthew Fobbs-White - probably the most physically impressive of the Edge guys we added
Rico Flores - underrated pickup. Was a real option as a true freshman at ND.
Beau Pribula - not terribly high on him but we needed a QB
Eli Holstein - he might be better than Beau
DaāShawn Martin - big play threat, hope it translates like it did with Trell
Justin Ross - tempted to rank him higher. Very highly thought of by Navy (and I trust Newberry). Has an NFL frame.
Peyton Lewis - Iām probably a little lower on him than most but still an important pickup. High floor.
Omilio Agard - another sneaky big coup. Probably had lots of P4 options but clearly liked the idea of going to UVa on and off field.
Jaylen Jones - versatile DB, tempted to rank higher
Darrion Henry-Young - has been around the block but I think heās being slept on simply because of his lofty expectations based on his HS ranking
Jacquon Gibson - love his tape, discounting a bit because of his awful team
Connor Cox - candidly donāt know a lot but critical to fill this position of need
Ezekiel Larry - hedging in case thereās an adjustment from Ivy League
Christian Ellis - high floor option. Could have easily been the starter if we didnāt get Hillman
Nnanna Anyanwu - more talented than this ranking but his injuries concern me
Alex Payne - idk how we got him seemingly so easily.
Jalen McNair - seems like a good player but heās at a deep position
Jacobie Henderson - experience is great but again I think he could slot behind some guys on the depth chart
Tyson Davis - has speed but curious why he wasnāt a bit more productive. Role is a little TBD.
Devon Baxter - upside
Wyatt Rubinoff - discount due to position
Ryan Brubaker - didnāt really understand this one but never hate adding OL.
