DALLAS — Florida State likely will not have a spot in the Big Ten or SEC if it’s successful in leaving the ACC and the ACC stays intact, sources told Action Network.
If/when the Seminoles break free from the ACC, their top choices would be to join the Big Ten or SEC because of the huge difference in television media rights revenue, sources said.
However, there are multiple concerns about adding Florida State, sources said. Those reasons include the fact that it doesn’t make financial sense for either league, “there’s no appetite for more expansion” and FSU has shown “it’s not a good partner.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was asked at Monday’s SEC Media Days how closely he was following the legal challenges by FSU and Clemson to exit the ACC.
“We’re focused on our 16. Period,” Sankey said. “I'm not going to guess about what happens next. We can certainly remain at 16 for a long, long time and be incredibly successful.”
Action Network contacted more than a dozen individuals, including university presidents, conference personnel, athletic directors, network executives and consultants. None would be identified because of the sensitivity surrounding conference realignment.
Three SEC presidents recently told Action Network they had “no interest” in adding Florida State. It takes 12 of the 16 SEC presidents to favor adding another school.
The Big Ten also is not interested in the Seminoles, sources said.
“[Big Ten commissioner] Tony [Petitti] is staying away from expansion, and we’re taking Tony’s lead,” a source said.
Added another: “Why would anyone want to expedite more chaos by adding Florida State?”
One source, however, cautioned “never say never” about FSU going to the Big Ten because there could be a path if the ACC disintegrates.
“There is no appetite among the presidents unless there is some catastrophic development with the ACC and it forces [the Big Ten] into a decision,” the source said.
“If the ACC blows up, who picks first [between the Big Ten and SEC]? Who picks second? If there is a need and desire to expand, you take inventory so your competitors don’t get it. But the presidents and chancellors are looking for stability. Despite what the social media geniuses are suggesting, no one — the leagues, the networks — is driving expansion.”
That could change if the ACC no longer exists.
But if the price to get out of the ACC is too prohibitive that Florida State and Clemson are the only schools to exit, what happens?
“If the ACC doesn’t implode, Florida State could be in a dangerous spot,” another source said. “I don’t know if they have a home. Unless there’s a doomsday scenario and the ACC implodes, FSU is in a bad spot.”
Another source stressed the Big Ten is “happy where we’re at.”
“What’s the upside of Florida State?” the source said. “We got what we needed by adding USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington — and Oregon and Washington were added at 50 cents on the dollar to help USC and UCLA. Who would Florida State help? And at what cost? And, most importantly, who’s going to pay for it?”
If the ACC no longer exists and the floodgates open, allowing a mass exodus from the ACC, North Carolina and Virginia would be highly sought after by the SEC and Big Ten, sources said.
Several sources added they weren’t convinced they could “trust” Florida State as a new member.
“Look what they did: getting the attorney general involved, accusing [former ACC commissioner] John Swofford of rigging the television rights to help his son, filing a suit to expose ESPN’s TV deals — something the other three power leagues are against, by the way,” the source said. “They’re not a good partner. There’s no congeniality. No one wants that.
“It’s not about FSU getting out of the ACC’s Grant of Rights. They’re not a fit.”
Added another Big Ten source: “There are too many negatives; they’ve proven to be a disruptive partner. Even if you got them in a similar discounted rate as the Oregon and Washington deal, do you trust them as a partner?”
There’s also Florida State’s Association of American Universities (AAU) status to consider. Every Big Ten school is a member of the prestigious AAU — except for Nebraska, which was an AAU member when it joined the Big Ten in 2010 but currently is not. Florida State is not an AAU member.
While it's not a requirement for Big Ten schools to be AAU members, it's a preference.
“It’s ‘clubby’ among the presidents, and AAU membership is significant to them,” a source said. “Remember, these are presidents and chancellors that make these [expansion] decisions.”
If the Big Ten and SEC aren’t options, the Big 12 “would seem to be a potential landing spot,” sources said.
The only problem: Florida State and Clemson aren’t currently that enamored with the Big 12. But, then again, neither were Utah and Arizona State until they saw the Pac-12 crumbling before their eyes, and look where they ended up. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Last week, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said his league is “not looking to add more schools” and is focused on integrating eight new schools the Big 12 added recently.
“I don’t understand why Florida State doesn’t rally everyone to work together in the ACC?” a source said. “Instead, they’re attempting something very complicated that ultimately likely won’t get them in the Big Ten or SEC.”
FSU and Clemson not getting an invite to the Big Ten or SEC? That’s not the sentiment of several individuals on social media, who defiantly tweet — almost daily — that both schools are a lock for the Big Ten.
“The challenge with what’s online and on social media is those guys have a lot of time on their hands,” a source said. “How do they get away with this nonsense? Are they right sometimes? What’s the saying? A broken clock is right twice a day.”
Is it possible Florida State and/or Clemson actually could file multiple lawsuits and spend millions — potentially hundreds of millions of dollars — on legal and exit fees to leave the ACC and not have a new home? In college football’s unpredictable future, nothing is certain except for the uncertainty.
“Never say never,” a Big Ten source said. “But the current sentiment is no for Florida State.”
Maybe so, but at the SEC’s May spring meetings in Destin, Florida, I talked to an SEC president about the league’s new logo — 16 teams in a circular formation. I asked if there was room for more.
“There’s always room for more,” the president said.
If so, when and for who?
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