If I’m the Big ten I still take my time with this. Have to feel the ACC and ND out. They are perfectly fine with 16 for now.
If they've been talking to USC and UCLA on the down low this long, they are also talking to Pitt, UVa, UNC, Duke as the quality AAU schools from the ACC. All about timing.
What is the endgame they have in mind? That's my question. What's the vision for 2030? 16? 20? 24? 32?
My best guess is 20 for both B1G and SEC, poaching from ACC when the time comes. Those two become the AFC and NFC, and the Big12 plus Pac12 and ACC remnants are the USFL. That's ESPN's vision anyway, and it seems to be happening.