ESPN Analyst Paul Finebaum discussed the future of the SEC and why it’s not sold on adding teams like the Clemson Tigers or the Florida State Seminoles during a recent appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” a radio show on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, Ala. This comes at a very fragile time for a couple of ACC teams.
The ACC has been swamped with lawsuits with Clemson and Florida State about the conference’s Grant of Rights deal. This has led to both schools wanting out of the ACC and potentially into the SEC or Big Ten. Recently, the lawsuits have been settled, which opens the door for either team to leave.
Paul Finebaum Breaks Down Why The SEC Isn’t Sold on Adding Clemson or FSU
“I think if you’re sitting there with 16 SEC presidents, they would much more likely gravitate toward North Carolina and Virginia, who I also believe are ‘drafting partners’ to use a NASCAR phrase,” says Finebaum.
More details emerging from settlement between ACC, FSU and Clemson via sources. Exit fee is expected to drop by $18 million each year through 2029-30. After that, exit fee drops to $75 million and any exiting team will retain is media rights.
— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) March 4, 2025
“As opposed to Clemson and Florida State, which for all their football prowess—and they are the last two ACC schools to win national championships—they don’t offer very much in anything,” Finebaum adds.
Schools in the conference can come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all have the same thing in common, institutional prestige. Regardless of how well a team plays on the field, if they have that prestige, they will let them in the SEC.
However, Finebaum points out that Clemson and Florida State have little to offer besides their football programs.
While teams like Florida State or Clemson may want to leave the ACC, they may be hard-pressed to find a conference to take them in, especially the SEC or Big Ten.
“Clemson is inferior to South Carolina as an academic institution. Then you have the same situation with Florida State. They are behind the other state schools, as well as private schools, in Florida.
“So, I don’t think either one of them has much to offer, and quite frankly, I’m not really sure why the Big Ten would want either one of them.”
KEEP READING: Paul Finebaum Questions Florida State’s Value
On the football field, the SEC could potentially benefit from adding a team like Clemson or Florida State. However, there are many reasons, including lack of production in other “money-making” sports, why more ACC teams are more attractive to the SEC than Clemson or Florida State.
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