Report: SEC may add ACC schools in response to Big Ten expansion

Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia are all potential candidates to join the SEC, according to a report from Brett McMurphy of Action Network.

Earlier this week, the college football landscape was shaken by the shocking move of UCLA and USC from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. That decision looks as though it will be the first of several realignment dominoes to fall, and the SEC isn't comfortable standing by while other conferences ramp up their numbers and firepower.

"Even by adding Oklahoma and Texas, the SEC is not going to sit back and watch the Big Ten and let things happen," McMurphy's report reads before listing the four ACC schools as the likeliest targets.

The SEC will expand to 16 teams when Oklahoma and Texas are added to the fold, likely in 2024. The Big Ten is also set to reach 16 teams after adding UCLA and USC.

In response to its pair of Los Angeles schools leaving, the Pac-12 announced Friday that it will "explore all expansion options." But it's possible the conference will lose more teams before it has the opportunity to offer spots to new members. Oregon and Washington reportedly hoped to follow UCLA and USC to the Big Ten, but were told the conference is waiting for Notre Dame to make a decision about realignment. Other rumors have indicated that Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah could all be targeted by the Big 12.

The SEC has won the college football national championship in 12 of the last 16 seasons. Clemson secured two of the four titles won by a non-SEC team and Florida State won another.