Gig Em Gazette's Graham Harmon believes that when the next round of conference realignment takes place, it makes "the most geographical and logistical sense" for the Tobacco Road trio of UNC, Duke, and NC State to all join the SEC instead of the Big Ten or Big 12.
"There will be issues for either conference with the Tobacco Road trio: can you take all three? Would you take all three? I'm not sure either conference is better equipped to handle that question than the other, but the fact is clear that what makes the most geographical and logistical sense for any one of these schools—and therefore for UNC individually—is to head to the SEC," Harmon wrote.
Harmon added that Clemson is a "shoo-in" for the "It Just Means More" conference, presumably due to their actually making the College Football Playoff in the four-team field era.
FSU, Clemson, OK State, K-State, and Texas Tech rumored to join SEC
There have been conflicting reports about where North Carolina will land, with the Big Ten being the most popular option floated amongst analysts. Radio host Greg Swaim believes UNC, Virginia, Kansas, and Notre Dame will be B1G-bound while FSU, Clemson, OK State, K-State, and Texas Tech will go to the SEC.
"If the so-called 'Super Conferences' begin poaching the Big12 and ACC, it's (Kansas football) to the B1G along with Notre Dame, UNC, and UVA, while FSU, Clemson, OK State, K-State, and Texas Tech to the SEC," Swaim wrote. "There will be other B12 and ACC school poaches as well, but at this time please, no wagering!"
UNC basketball would be better off in the more competitive Big Ten, but football is king when it comes to conference realignment negotiations.
Ipso facto, expect the SEC to expand into North Carolina if/when it gets the chance. And expect UNC, if not Duke and NC State as well, to join them.