SEC Football: Top 5 expansion candidates for the conference

If another round of realignment hits college football, who might the SEC target? Here are five attractive candidates for the top-tier conference.

Realignment will always remain a possibility in college football. Conference affiliation has always been fluid, as teams try out new homes over time with the goal of bolstering position in the collegiate hierarchy. Allegiances shift as new opportunities present better competitive balance or bigger paydays.

The preeminent conference so far in the 21st century has been the SEC. They were the first conference at the I-A level to expand to 12 teams, when South Carolina and Arkansas were brought into the fold in 1992. They have also kept pace over the ensuing quarter-century by adding Texas A&M and Missouri.

Realignment has settled down over the past few years. But all it would take is one spark for the entire process to begin anew. In such a situation, the SEC would be in a position of power to further fortify its membership.

Who might the SEC target if realignment were to begin again in the next year or two? They would probably have their pick of expansion candidates, but the key would be saturating new markets. Keep reading for five candidates that the conference might target in another round of growth.