Despite fans of both schools clamoring for a Big 12 invite, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is strongly against the idea of either team joining the Big 12.
Finebaum joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning to speak on the possibility of the duo leaving the ACC in the near future and mentioned that the Big 12 is not the ideal spot for either program.
“I think it is going to be fascinating when they appear at ACC Media Days,” 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.”
While somewhat recycled from an older statement previously reported, on Monday, On3’s Pete Nakos reminded college football fans that Clemson and Florida State are not expected to notify the ACC of plans to leave the conference by 2025-26.
“I think, ultimately, they’re going to get out,” Finebaum continued. “There’s too much legal maneuvering and too much shrapnel flying. 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 it 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?”
Despite Finebaum’s insistence that FSU and Clemson are holding out hope for an SEC invite, following SEC media days, league commissioner Greg Sankey feels strongly that the league is competing for the duo of ACC teams to join their ranks.
