Paul Finebaum weighs in on the future of Florida State, potential of leaving ACC

It hasn’t been a secret that the Florida State Seminoles are looking to leave the ACC amid a lawsuit against the conference and conference realignment across college athletics. Now, the Seminoles are set for what should be an interesting ACC Media Days.

Ahead of that, analyst Paul Finebaum made an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. There, he weighed on the potential of Florida State leaving the ACC in the future.

“I think [it] is going to be fascinating when they appear at ACC Media Days,” Paul Finebaum said. “There’s some reporting this morning, as you guys know, that they are probably not going to file by this deadline in a couple of weeks that they want out right now. But I don’t think that was really a surprise. They don’t have a route out.”

Florida State first joined the ACC in 1992. Prior to that, the Seminoles had been an Independent for four decades. Since then, Florida State has been one of the conference’s best teams, winning the conference 16 times.

Much of why Florida State wants to leave has to do with the conference’s current media deal, which includes a Grant of Rights that locks schools in through June 30, 2036. Since signing that deal, ACC schools have seen the revenue gap with the SEC and Big Ten widen, which is expected to continue moving forward.

“But I think, ultimately, they’re going to get out. There’s too much legal maneuvering and too much shrapnel flying,” Finebaum said. “But I still don’t think they’re any closer to a home. I think a lot of people thought the Big 12 was a good place for them, but it’s really not. That’s not what they want. They want the SEC or the Big Ten, and I don’t think you can say that just because the SEC and the Big Ten don’t seem to want them right now, they won’t end up. I think the SEC and the Big Ten look at is as if, okay, maybe we really don’t want them collectively but if the other guy wants them then suddenly do we have to play defense?”

The legal battle between Florida State and the ACC is ongoing. However, many people do expect the two sides to settle and find a buyout number for Florida State to pay and leave the conference. To do that, however, the Seminoles would need a home to go to. As of now, Florida State doesn’t have that home.

“So, I think that’s really where they are,” Finebaum said. “In a year of screaming and hollering and going to court and making a lot of noise, I’m not sure Florida State has really moved the ball one yard from where they were a year ago.”