Five 'dream' realignment moves across college football

Expansion has become one of the most discussed topics in the college football world

College football realignment has been the talk of the past 12 months after four programs essentially disrupted the equilibrium of the sport.

Following moves by Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC followed by moves of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, there has been a nonstop discussion as to what's next. Obviously the Big 12 was able to add four more programs in order to get back to 12, but conferences such as the Pac-12 and ACC have constantly been in the headlines for their programs being targeted by other conferences, especially the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 has been viewed as the loser of this past year, as they are still making efforts to secure a media rights deal with the hopes of expansion to follow. The belief is that San Diego State and SMU will be getting those invitations, but I came across a fascinating article by The Athletic's  Stewart Mandel that called for a different team joining the Pac-12. Mandel was answering mailbag questions, and one of the questions was about his personal five dream realignment moves. 

Obviously these are highly unlikely to happen especially when you consider the only other expansion moves that are expected are the Pac-12's barring their collapse, but they would make for quite the spectacle. 

Clemson

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Hypothetical Landing Spot: SEC

Clemson has been one of the more dominant programs in football, and they are directly in the footprint of the SEC whose conference makes the most geographical sense. Mandel lobbied for more matchups against powers like LSU and Alabama, rather than programs such as Syracuse or Wake Forest. 

Maryland

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Hypothetical Landing Spot: ACC

While they make a ton of money in the Big Ten, Maryland just feels like the odd man out since leaving the ACC. As Mandel explained they don't have a rival, and the fans haven't seemed to be invested in the Big Ten edition of the Terps. 

Louisville

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Hypothetical Landing Spot: Big 12

Louisville's third conference move in the past decade has them jumping over to the Big 12. Mandel cited rivalry's with Cincinnati and West Virginia as the main reasons that they would make sense. They also typically have a good basketball program, which should compliment the Big 12's basketball landscape very well. 

BYU

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Hypothetical Landing Spot: Pac-12

BYU has long been viewed as a fit for the Pac-12, but there are external factors at play here. Having the Holy War as a conference game would likely add to what is already one of the best rivalries in college football, but a relationship between the Pac-12 and BYU is unlikely to ever happen. 

Notre Dame

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Hypothetical Landing Spot: Big Ten

Notre Dame has been fighting the good fight to not join a conference, and while they do have an obligation to the ACC, Mandel likes their fit with the Big Ten. He believes they have more entertainment matchups and rivalries with programs in the Big Ten. It would also add to a very impressive list of brands in the conference. If Notre Dame ends up in the Big Ten, it also may create a path for Stanford to make the move as well.