Their conference, more than any other, uses their conference affiliation for more than just football.
why would that go away though?
Why would the academic and research affiliations they have with the Big 10 schools go away if those schools left the Big 10? Is that what you're asking?
Yes. For reference, the University of Chicago was a member of the academic group until fairly recently and is still closely affiliated.
The University of Chicago is #6 in the country and #15 globally in the U.S. News and World Reports rankings. The SEC has 2 schools in the top 50, Florida at 39 and Georgia at 46.
I'm saying that the Big Ten academic collaboration might continue to include Michigan and Ohio State if those athletic departments went to the SEC for football.
The University of Chicago dropped football in 1939, they didn't leave their conference peers for the Southern Conference's 40 pieces of silver.
Is your reasoning forcarrying on with this, just because? It's not a cultural fit, it's not an academic fit, it doesn't make them more competitive, and it likely won't make them more money, so what are we talking about here? Yes, we are aware they can, it's America. I CAN become a 5 time nba champion head coach, but that seems highly unlikely so why act like it's even remotely plausible.