The SEC officially expanded to 16 teams on July 1, 2024, and expansion talk is heating up again before the SEC's first season in its new era. According to Vegas oddsmakers, the top six teams with the best odds to join the SEC next come from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
There have been rumors swirling about the nxt school joining the SEC or Big 10 in expansion. Florida State and Clemson have been the top teams looking to leave the ACC, but neither power conference has expressed direct interest in adding either school to the conference lineup.
The PAC-12 all but ended last year after its powerhouse programs, Oregon and USC, announced they were leaving for the Big 10. The same could happen in the near future if the top ACC schools decide to join the SEC.
North Carolina currently has the best odds to join the SEC. The Tar Heels are +300 in the odds market, giving them a 25% chance of being the next school to join.
There have been rumors that the SEC is most interested in North Carolina and Virginia when the conference is ready for expansion again, so UNC has the best odds and sits ahead of Clemson and Florida State.
While Virginia is the popular school swirling around the rumor mill, the Cavaliers only have the fourth-best odds to join the SEC. Virginia has +500 odds and a 16.7% to join the conference, behind Clemson and Florida State.
Clemson has +350 odds to join the SEC, which gives the Tigers a 22.2% chance of joining the conference soon. Florida State has +400 odds and a 20% chance of joining the SEC.
Conference expansion might not be coming again for another couple of years, but given the current state of college athletics, it's always a topic of conversation, especially when it affects the College Football Playoff and the future of smaller sports.
Full odds to join the SEC
North Carolina +300 (25%)
Clemson +350 (22.2%)
Florida State +400 (20%)
Virginia +500 (16.7%)
Virginia Tech +600 (14.3%)
Miami +1200 (7.7%)
Oklahoma State +1500 (6.3%)
The Field +1300 (7.1%)