Big Ten and SEC Eye Expansion, North Carolina and Virginia Top Targets

As of August 2025, the landscape of college sports is set to undergo significant changes, with both the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference (SEC) poised to expand their ranks in the coming years.

According to Jim Smith, the athletic director of the University of Maryland, the Big Ten could potentially grow to 20 teams by 2030. The conference has already bolstered its portfolio by securing deals with several West Coast programs, including Oregon, USC, Washington, and UCLA. While there has been speculation about Notre Dame eventually joining the Big Ten, that rumor has not gained much traction recently.

Meanwhile, the SEC has further strengthened its position as one of the premier conferences in college football by welcoming Texas and Oklahoma as new members. This move has solidified the SEC's status as the top conference in the sport.

However, the expansion plans of the Big Ten and SEC may not stop there. According to insider Brett McMurphy, the two conferences have set their sights on two prominent ACC programs: the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia. McMurphy revealed that both schools are highly coveted by the Big Ten and SEC, and their eventual destination remains uncertain.

The potential addition of North Carolina and Virginia to either the Big Ten or SEC would undoubtedly have significant implications for the college sports landscape. The prospect of legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick leading the North Carolina Tar Heels against the likes of Ohio State's Ryan Day or Georgia's Kirby Smart has already generated significant buzz in the college football community.