Thanks to Greg Sankey, a 'national conference with a regional platform' is just right

Recent college football buzz has the Big 12 growing to 24 teams. Two of the rumored additions would be the two programs most often mentioned for SEC Football expansion; Florida State and Clemson. The most repeated rumor has the Noles and the Tigers, Washington State, Oregon State; and four SEC programs will join the Big 12.

No one would ever mistake Big 12 commissioner, Brett Yormark as a 'less is more' guy. But maybe that old phrase somewhat fits Greg Sankey. At SEC Media Days while using the phrase 'never say never', Sankey bluntly stated the SEC is content at 16 teams. Under future circumstances, perhaps the SEC's apparent rebuff of Florida State and Clemson changes into open arms.

SEC Football - A National Conference with a Regional Platform

Multiple media sources contend if or when the SEC makes another expansion move, the first choice will be the University of North Carolina. It is difficult to imagine the Tar Heels being in a basketball conference that does not include Duke. But 'never say never' is a good caution. The wildest 'never say never' supposition is Notre Dame someday joining the SEC. As powerful as the SEC is, it seems almost guaranteed the Big Ten would make an offer the Irish could not refuse. And if the SEC won out to land the Fighting Irish, the SEC's 'regional platform' distinction would have to be discarded.

Sankey was also asked about the possibility of selling SEC naming rights. Yormark seems intent on doing a Big 12 naming rights deal. So intent, the idea of a 'Poulan Weedeater Big 12 Conference' comes to mind. No denigration is intended for the Poulan company which has made quality products for decades. It's just that whenever a college football post-season kicks off, I always remember the Poulan Weedeater Bowl in Shreveport. A December trip to Shreveport stays stuck in my mind as the worst post-season reward given to any team.

Apologies for my digression, and back to opinions that matter. In Dallas Sankey was asked about future naming rights deals for the SEC. His answer was "Based on the reaction that our fans have had, I would have to go into witness protection if we did that. I don't have any sense that our membership is looking for that."

The SEC can afford to stick at 16 for now. Some SEC football fans are hopeful the conference never grows above 18 teams. Leave the 24-team mega-conference spin to the Big 12, that even at 24 teams would be no more than a feeder league.