Florida State willing to be 'villain' in ACC realignment

Whether people like it or not, realignment is coming. The Big Ten and SEC are currently dominating the scene, leaving the Power Five behind in favor of the Power Two. We have seen the Big 12 respond, making five additions thus far. For the most part, the ACC and Pac-12 have remained silent and in the case of those out West, been kind of a disaster.

For the ACC, they are dealing with a potential exodus of conference members. Florida State is the one leading the charge, potentially looking to join one of the Power Two. Nobody has thought that would be possible due to the ACC’s Grant of Rights but the approach might be changing.

“There isn’t a path that is easily found to get out from under this,” Jeff Cameron of On3’s Warchant said when speaking to On3’s Andy Staples. “What Florida State has chosen to do is make as much noise as possible and letting them know… Lots of people around the conference, at one time, thought that the Grant of Rights would be deemed locked solid or unbreakable.

“I’m not so sure people believe that anymore. I don’t think Peter Collins and Florida Stat believe that.”

If the Grant of Rights can be challenged, somebody will eventually budge. Cameron believes Florida State could wind up being the “villain” and do exactly that. They could be the one school leading the charge to make something happen with the ACC.

“The question wasn’t whether or not you could find an avenue by which to legally challenge it,” Cameron said. “It was that ‘do you want to?’ And Florida State, appears to me, to be willing at this point out of desperation — financial desperation — to be the villain. Somebody has to say ‘we’re leaving.’ If that means we’re going to court — then so be it.”

While Florida State might be able to go to court, Cameron says they most likely do not want to. But the Seminoles are not going to sit around and be a member of the ACC while the conference falls behind. At some point, both sides are going to find a way to get what they want.

“I don’t think they want to go to court,” Cameron said. “Nobody does. Their hope, I believe, is that this will bring people to the bargaining table. At some point, if it’s inevitable that Florida State, Clemson, and maybe others are going to leave the ACC, and if the ACC is going to continue to fall behind, wouldn’t it behoove the ACC or ESPN, to get something for these assets before they make their way down the road?”