We have a large alumni base in Northern VA. Close to UMD and B1G alums far outnumber SEC alums here — UMD aside.

biggest name SEC "home" opponent in the DMV area every year. Tell me how you think that game, say VT vs UGA , Bama or Texas would do vs MD against OSU or Mich or even USCw?

while it's "really" Fairfax County is obnoxious. If they want to play a non conference game up there every few years, so be it, but the biggest conference game yearly? C'mon. Just tell George Mason to start a program.

A non conference foe can't generate that pop.

FedExField (one word), and people are tuning in? Lane's atmosphere is that much of a detriment that only the electricity of a neutral site NFL stadium matchup could save it? C'mon now. Picture that Drake meme with that matchup at home (normal) versus in Landover. It's laughable.

our national capital would be an enticement for us to get into the SEC. I see giving up a game in Lane is a cheap price to pay to get into the SEC.

Do you think FedExField is refusing to return Bama's or UGA's calls pleading to let them play there until we (a quickly declining "brand") are involved? ** Edited by Hokie 04 at 3/28/2024, 7:11:27 AM

Some guy is trying to partner with them to build a 10,000 seat cricket stadium, which also be used for baseball. The neighors are not happy.

Uof A not for TV markets because aging alumn want warm weather possibilies for bowl trends and current winter homes. View is Florida state Miami Clemson SEC bound. So grab valuable brand teams in both TV and current big donor markets. If only Naples Florida had a D1 football team cause outside of AZ thats where midwest $$ fall/winter out

in the same P2. The schools have well over a hundred year history, and work together in amazing way, mostly behind the scenes, thanks in a big part to John Warner, Bill & Alice Goodwin, and those that have followed their lead.

dreams and nightmares...I'd have no problem with VT and uva being in separate conferences. Of course, I'm pretty ambivalent about being in the Big 10 or the SEC. My inner Confederate probably prefers the SEC. Might be happiest in some kind of ramshackle Big 12/ACC merger, maybe. It worked for Austria-Hungary (until it didn't).

Beggars can't be choosy, and I'd be thrilled if we ended up in the same P2 conference, but there is something very fun about rivalries that are out of conference. I always leaned towards VT in the SEC and UVA in the B10, and still do, but the additions of USC, Oregon, UCLA and Washington make the B10 very compelling - especially since you can add Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, and even UMD in the DC metro.

rivalry between VT and UVa. I have NO problem not being in UVa's conference.

to be dying.

Curious as to why you feel different conferences is more likely? How do you see that could play out?

But I doubt either conference really wants 2 schools from either state. Conference expansion is all about money, and the most money would be made by each of the P-2 conferences dividing up NC and VA by each taking 1 school from each state. Now maybe some outside forces will try to intervene to prevent that from happening. Maybe the political forces in the states will try to keep the state schools together, or maybe ESPN wants to keep all 4 schools under their umbrella and pushes the SEC to take all 4. I honestly hope something like that happens, as I personally would prefer all 4 schools to stick together. But I just don't think that's the most likely outcome. As long as all 4 schools make it into the P-2 then that's still a win as far as I'm concerned. There's no reason why the schools couldn't keep playing each other out of conference. I still think it was so stupid that Texas and Texas A&M didn't keep playing their annual football game, but I don't think there is the same level of animosity between UNC and NCSU or UVA and VT that would cause them to stop playing each other the way the Texas schools did. ** Edited by tarheelblue at 3/27/2024, 1:46:27 AM

carry more Olympic Sports that UNC has than the SEC, it would also give them a presence in the North where most of their out of state students come from, and lastly the Academic people would probably prefer to associate with the B1G over the SEC. I know probably the UNC fans and John Skipper would prefer them in the SEC, but I am asking about the UNC Administration. Any idea where they are leaning? They are the ones that ultimately make the decision.

There are 2 entities that get a say in this decision, the UNC Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors. The BoT has authority over UNC-Chapel Hill, while the BoG has authority over the entire UNC System (including UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State). The BoG members are elected by the North Carolina General Assembly, which is supermajority Republican, so I assume they lean more conservative/traditionalist. The BoT eight are elected by the UNC Board of Governors and six are appointed by the NC General Assembly, which I assume means they would also lean more traditionalist. Given that, I think these governing bodies would lean towards maintaining more traditional ties with other Southern schools like those in the SEC rather than the Midwestern and Pacific Coast schools in the B1G. Additionally, since the BoG also has a duty to NC State, they will probably want the 2 schools to stay together if possible, and I think the SEC would be much more willing to accept NC State as part of a package deal with UNC. I don't think the B1G would consider adding NC State under any circumstances. If the SEC will only take 1, then I think the decision would be made to allow UNC to go to the B1G if NC State was guaranteed a spot in the SEC. ** Edited by tarheelblue at 3/28/2024, 8:14:15 PM

However, my number 1 is both being in the same P2 so we can play each other in every sport we both have teams. It’s just fun!!

how much of factor in how the schools approach the topic. If both schools take the position that they are a packaged deal, then it could suggest it is a factor.