is willing to expand Lane to around 80K. If we are talking closer to 50 teams, then VT may have a shot to make the list. Assuming this group is only for power conference schools, then here are the likely candidates (by association) to make the 40 team list.
ACC (7): Clemson, FSU, UNC, Miami, NC State, Pitt, and VT
Big Ten (8): Iowa, Michigan, Michigan St, Nebraska, Ohio St, Penn St, Purdue, and Wisconsin
Big XII (4): BYU, Kansas St, Oklahoma St, and WVU
Independent (1): Notre Dame
Pac-12 (8): Arizona, Arizona St, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington
SEC (13): Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi St, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M
Even though I included VT on the list, I could see a scenario where VT and a few other schools could get bumped to make room for Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, TCU, Baylor, Houston, UCF, Rutgers, or Missouri. I say that because it may depend on how they want to divide up the 40 schools. If they want to divide them into 4 divisions of 10 with each "conference" having 2 divisions, then the group may need to add more mid-western or western schools to balance out the divisions. As a result, eastern, central, or southeastern schools may be SOL (assuming they want to compete in this "league"). If they opt to go with 6 divisions, then the number could be increased to 42 or 48 teams. If they opt to go with 8 divisions, then 40 or 48 teams probably makes the most sense. At least it could open the door to expand the playoffs so that it resembles the NFL Playoffs format.
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