Paul Finebaum makes the case for FSU, Clemson as perfect 'fits' for the SEC

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has been critical of both Clemson and Florida State at times. But the SEC Network on-air personality admits that the two top programs in the ACC would fit in well in the Southeastern Conference.

Clemson and FSU are exploring their options as conference realignment continues to take place around the country. Florida State has been more open about wanting out of the conference, while Clemson has been quietly working behind the scenes.

“I believe Clemson does want out of the ACC,” Paul Finebaum said Thursday on First Take. “It has become problematic for Dabo Swinney and Florida State and Miami and others to compete against the SEC. I know some people are saying, ‘well you’re the SEC mouthpiece.’ I’m not saying it. The ACC coaches are saying that to people.”

Clemson and Florida State have been able to compete with the best of the best during their time in the ACC. The Seminoles have won three national titles since joining the league in 1992, including the 2013 national championship. The Tigers have won a pair of national titles under Dabo Swinney, doing so in 2016 and again in 2018.

However, with Big Ten and SEC schools set to receive tens of millions of dollars more per year than ACC schools due to TV rights deals, it’s going to be harder for Clemson and Florida State to keep up moving forward.

“They may win some battles, but they’re losing most of the battles against the Nick Sabans and the Kirby Smarts. And now you have Ohio State and Michigan and Southern Cal,” Finebaum said. “So they need to do something.”

What exactly that “something” is remains to be seen. Finebaum believes that the best chance for Clemson and FSU to leave the conference may be for other schools in the league to join them in trying to get out.

“If enough of them decide, ‘You know what, we’re done with the ACC.’ It would force the ACC’s hand,” Finebaum said. “But right now the ACC has to try to figure out a survival plan and singing ‘Kum Ba Yah,’ which is all the commissioner has done so far, will not be the answer.”

Again, leaving the ACC isn’t an easy task, but if the Tigers and Seminoles do, the SEC would seem to be a natural fit.

Florida State and Clemson have excellent facilities, large and passionate fanbases and a history of being successful. They are also rivals with current SEC teams, and geographically it makes sense.

“If you look at Clemson and Florida State, there are no two better fits in the world to the SEC than those two,” Finebaum said. “I mean they’ve won national championships in the last 10 years. They recruit at the highest level. They have good coaches. They have phenomenal traditions. And they’re both in states with SEC schools.”