Paul Finebaum Argues That Florida State Should Leave The ACC
A warning shot was fired from Tallahassee on Wednesday that put the college football world on notice. Florida State President Richard McCullough, Athletic Director Michael Alford, and the university's Board of Trustees sent a message to the ACC about the program's future in the league.
"I would have to say that my current assessment of the situation after very deep analysis is that I believe FSU, at some point, will have to very seriously consider leaving the ACC unless there was a radical change to the revenue distribution," McCullough stated on Wednesday.
READ MORE: FSU President Sends Major Message To ACC During Board Of Trustees Meeting
The public declaration has picked up national attention from media across the country, including SEC talking head Paul Finebaum. His opinion on the subject has flip-flopped over the past year but Finebaum made an argument on Thursday morning for the Seminoles to leave the ACC as soon as possible while noting one conference in particular as destination.
"Leaving, like today, Ryan. Now, would they have somewhere else to go? Yes, they would. Heather quoted Greg Sankey [SEC Commissioner], there's nothing else he can say," Finabaum said on ESPN's Get Up. "You don't want to get in the middle of someone else's legal quagmire but clearly the ACC is struggling right now. They're struggling for a lot of reasons, primarily because they have a TV deal that doesn't end until 2036. Meanwhile, you see the PAC-12 schools scrambling like roaches at night, the Big Ten has shown indications that it could add a few more.
"The FSU President and the board yesterday, it was an unprecedented meeting essentially saying 'hey, somebody come save us' and the most likely prospect is the SEC and don't forget there are other schools in the ACC who are not happy," Finabaum continued. "FSU is not the only bad kid in the kindergarten class. Clemson doesn't like its position, North Carolina doesn't, Miami doesn't, that league right now needs to hold down and there's really nothing they can do other than happen.
It's obvious that the SEC and Big Ten are more than aware of what the Florida State brand could bring to either conference. This is a process that the Seminoles have been exploring for over a year and they're preparing multiple courses of action. The university has until August 15 to notify the ACC of its intentions to depart the conference if it wants to leave by the beginning of the 2024 season.
FSU is at risk of falling behind in a growing revenue gap that could reach upwards of $30 million per year over the next 13 years until the ACC's Grant of Rights expires in 2036. That doesn't even include the next TV deals for the SEC and Big Ten as both conferences will renegotiate for even more money before the ACC goes to market.
Whether it's sooner or later, it feels like the Seminoles are gearing up to make a major move.
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