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Ranking the 14 Most Likely SEC Expansion Candidates

By Matthew Bartlett

Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC logo on the playing field at the Georgia Dome in preparation for the SEC Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators Saturday. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC logo on the playing field at the Georgia Dome in preparation for the SEC Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators Saturday. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEC Expansion
Oct 8, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; A North Carolina State flag waves in the wind in the parking lot before the game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

5. North Carolina State (ACC)

Why SEC Expansion with North Carolina State Makes Sense

The state of North Carolina and the ACC have not gotten along very well. After the state legislature passed the controversial “bathroom bill” the ACC responded by pulling the ACC Championship game from the the state. North Carolina is in the works of passing a new bill that would allow them to pull both NC State and North Carolina from the ACC if the conference boycotted the state again.

Duke would be preferable to NC State, but the Blue Devils are a private institution – meaning the state has no authority over them. NC State would add the same television market as Duke. At this point the Wolfpack look to be more attainable.

Likelihood of Happening

30 percent. NC State is in the right geographic area and would increase the television revenue for a conference that’s already doing quite well. If the SEC can’t get the North Carolina Tarheels, NC State wouldn’t be a bad second option.