From 2005 to 2012, BC was on an island, but thanks to the additions of SU and Pitt, the ACC was able to connect to them geogaphically.

ND was briefly on an island, but thanks to UMCP leaving, the ACC was compelled to add UL bridging Virginia to Kentucky to Indiana. Still, ND feels like they are on an island as they are more in the Chicago area than the east coast.

With the exit of UMCP, the ACC has a geographic gap between Virginia and Pennsylvania. Some could say Pitt, SU and BC just form a larger island now. If the ACC adds WVU or Cincinnati, that geographic gap closes.

As for the statement of "misfit" toys, the only strange P5 conferences in my mind are the Big XII (because of adding WVU) and the ACC with our hodgepodge of members (5 1/2 private schools, 7 flagship/land grant schools, 2 regional/city schools with 4 of those schools being in North Carolina). IIWII but the I wouldn't throw the "dysfunctional" word around any P5 conference if I'm a fan of an ACC school.

To me Nebraska fits in the B1G just fine. UMCP and Rutgers do not fit the B1G culture. But in 1990, I never thought of PSU as a Big Ten school. But in time, now I do. Who knows, maybe 15 years from now, people will finally accept Tech, Miami, BC, SU, Pitt and UL as ACC schools. Right now, many don't. Example #1, a UNC colleague from my work (in another office) thought Tech, Pitt, BC and SU were still in the Big East. On the flip side, he had always thought Miami was an ACC school and never was in the Big East. Example #2, a Wisconsin grad had no idea what conference Tech was in. He guessed the SEC. The same UWM grad also thought UMCP was in the ACC, even though his brother graduated from UMCP.

We, on this board, are very in tune to these things. But I think a large majority of folks are oblivious to who belongs where.
[Post edited by Calamitous at 06/17/2017 09:50AM]