UMVAFAN
November 2nd, 2023 at 8:59 AM ^
I agree that if the Big Ten does take any preemptive action against Michigan with a post season ban or vacating wins then Michigan should walk to the ACC or SEC. On the academic side, the ACC is stronger than the Big Ten with Duke, UNC, Cal, Stanford, BC, Georgia Tech, UVA and Wake Forest (and Notre Dame for all but football) as upper echelon academic schools. And then a slightly lower tier of Miami, SMU, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Pitt (and a not too shabby bottom tier of Louisville, Syracuse, NC State and Clemson). The Big Ten has two upper echelons in Michigan and Northwestern, and then the rest are in line with the ACCs slightly lower tier. Michigan would be a great and natural fit if Notre Dane nixed their independent football status to give Michigan a natural rival in the ACC.
And if football is the deciding factor,
then the SEC is a no brainer and they’d take Michigan in a heartbeat.
Michigan does not need the Big Ten but the Big Ten does need Michigan. I’d be happy to erase all Big Ten related traditions and rivalries if the membership is demanding action against Michigan without due process and even giving Michigan a chance to defend itself. Michigan is muzzled right now, so doing anything before the NCAA is done with their investigation would be a bigger scandal than Connor Stalions scouting off campus. It would likely ruin college sports if a precedent is set where private investigators bring evidence forward and teams are punished without being able present a case against the claims. (although I’m thinking college athletics is doomed anyways with unregulated NIL, conference realignment and super conferences that don’t make sense, etc. If I want to watch pro sports, I’ll watch the NFL, NHL or NBA).