If this is supposedly being primarily driven by football, then why in the hell are the supposed "experts" saying that the B1G or SEC would prefer Virginia over Virginia Tech?? That makes zero sense if you are trying to get the best football programs with the largest audience -- because, of course, Virginia is garbage in football and VT is much better than them and arguably one of the top 4 or 5 schools in the ACC for football, with a passionate fanbase and ~65,000 packed stadium every Saturday...while UVa has a lame football fanbase and probably only averaging about 30,000 actually showing up for games.
I mention that just to compare it to the UNC vs. NC State debate...as it is a similar situation to Uva vs VT. The Wolfpack has a better football program than unc and a much better football culture and fanbase with much bigger and better crowds on gameday.
Maybe the B1G and SEC would favor Uva as opposed to VT because they think they can get about the same number of eyeballs on TV, but an "easy win" in football for most current members of those conferences. While VT would might actually get better TV ratings, but would be a tougher opponent. Similar argument for why the SEC and B1G prefer unc over NC State in football? Get about the same TV ratings for football, but unc is an easier opponent for current B1G and SEC members.
The SEC and B1G need some football "cupcakes" with somewhat large fanbases. If they load up their conference with all killers, a lot of the "big time" programs (eg, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, etc) are going to have 6-6 and 7-5 records on average, year after year.
"Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." - John 15:19