Auburn football: 5 potential Power Five replacements amidst SEC coup rumors

The Fighting Irish finally conform to the ACC

Notre Dame football has stood separate from the ACC despite its other athletic programs being fully participating members. It is part of the allure of the Fighting Irish brand in South Bend, as is their TV deal with NBC.

Last season, though, they were forced to conform and join the ACC because of the COVID-19 restrictions on the game that all but canceled most non-conference matchups from the schedule outside of a few.

With every Power 5 conference growing seemingly weaker outside of the SEC, Notre Dame firmly committing to the ACC would bring stability to a conference that has lacked a CFP contender outside of Clemson and Florida State, who are both rumored to have talked to the SEC about realignment.

Cincinnati replaces Ohio State as the Buckeye State representative in the Big Ten

The Cincinnati Bearcats aren’t separated too many degrees from Auburn football, having been the last college football program to employ Tommy Tuberville before the long-time Tigers coach took his voice to the senate floor.

In recent years, Cincy has morphed into a power in the American, amassing a 33-6 record the last three years under Luke Fickell. They most recently won the AAC title and lost to Georgia by a touchdown in the Peach Bowl and are moving in the right direction.

Any potential Big Ten vacancy from Ohio State and Michigan should be filled by the best G5 school in the Midwest, Cincinnati.