more than to save their conferences. The next 4 to 6 years (whenever the next wave of conference destruction takes place) will be a beauty contest where the prettiest football schools will be invited to either the SEC or Big 18. Not sure what those qualifications will be anymore because everything seems on the table. Five to six years ago I would have automatically assumed those schools would be the large flagship and land grant schools with rabid football fans. Now I’m not convinced that Clemson, Virginia Tech and NC State have any better shot at achieving SEC or Big 18 status as SMU, Duke and Stanford do. NIL and the transfer portal have destroyed predictability and any schools ability to build a team over sustainable long periods. To your point about the SEC invincibility myth, I think SEC dominance will return. Those schools have way too much money and pride to be usurped by the “lower” power conferences. Football is a religion down there and they will figure out how to stay on top, much the way the Big 18 will. I just hope my Hokies aren’t left in the dust playing in the AAC with Memphis and ECU a decade from now.