Paul Finebaum defends Clemson over Florida State as better option for SEC expansion

After conference realignment had seemed to settle down, rumors have begun swirling again. In particular, there are reports that North Carolina is looking into a potential move to the SEC.

That move would likely come with a partner following them to the SEC. It would also likely come with a corresponding move by the Big Ten. That’s included schools like Virginia, Clemson, and Florida State, all being rumored, which analyst Paul Finebaum addressed on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.

“We had a guest on the other day who basically said, ‘This is what I heard, although I can’t back it up,'” Paul Finebaum said. “Of course, I’m doing worse than he did. I’m quoting what he said. But he said that Virginia was also being coveted by the Big Ten. By the way, so is North Carolina. There’s no one that the SEC would be comfortable with that the Big Ten wouldn’t be comfortable with because of the power.”

One team that gets mentioned frequently is Florida State. The Seminoles have been aggressive in their push to find a way to exit the ACC, fit in the SEC footprint, and have a strong football history. At the same time, Finebaum still thinks Clemson is the better option.

“I think, then you start to get into the next level. Is it Florida State? I feel far more strongly saying that it is not Florida State than anyone else. Just go back two years ago. We all watched that circus going on down there. Not only that, we saw the program implode last year, which doesn’t help you in any way,” Finebaum said. “Which brings me to the school I think there’s the most conversation about, and that is Clemson.”

Like Florida State, Clemson is a state school in a state that already has an SEC school. Both programs seem to want to move on from the ACC. However, as Finebaum pointed out, there is more positive buzz around the Tigers as a program right now.

“I might have said some time back that I didn’t think Clemson was in a good position. I think they’re probably in a better position now only because in this world that we live in, it is about buzz,” Finebaum said. “It is about sizzle, and it is about matchups. You put Clemson against anyone in the upper level of the SEC, and it’s a far better game than it would be than if you put Florida State against them. And I know that’s contradictory to the earlier card, Virginia, because they don’t really bring much buzz to anyone other than in an academic, presidential setting. But I think Clemson has been gaining just a little bit of traction just in the parlor game. That’s all we’re talking about here.”

Several schools have been looking to find a way out of the SEC. That’s in part due to a media deal that is seen as trailing the SEC and the Big Ten, significantly. Now, the conference has a new exit fee structure, which will drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year. That will likely affect the timeline of any move. Of course, those ACC schools looking to exit need to find a conference that wants them too.

“The question for every one of these schools within a state that has SEC schools is, what is the position? I’ve already talked about Florida State. Would South Carolina try to stand in Clemson’s way? And, if they did, could they and would they be able to stop them? So, those are questions. I think, after that, there are any number of possibilities,” Finebaum said. “But none which would have as much gravitas as Clemson would.”

It certainly seems like more conference realignment is on the horizon. What that looks like exactly, however, remains to be seen.