(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

Supposedly, to garner a perspective on how often Nick Saban changes his underwear, tuning-in to Paul Finebaum is a must!

(05-24-2023 04:30 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  it is just his opinion he is not in tune with what SEC commissioner/School Presidents/TV executives think.

However him and Greg McElroy have been brining up redundancy in expansion

I think he is correct. Clemson does not bring the tv market, but they get the audience because they were the only team in recent years in the ACC that have gone to the playoffs. FSU, Miami, UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, etc were not, and the ACC have the worst performance conference with their ratings. When you get the top teams in the G5 in AAC and MWC getting better ratings than some of the big tv markets in the ACC like Miami, UNC, Pittsburgh, Boston College and Syracuse? You have a major problem.

That is why people think Orlando and UCF is more valuable than Miami right now. Miami is not growing as much as the metro region of Orlando.

(05-24-2023 11:02 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 09:27 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 03:48 PM)BeepBeepJeep Wrote:  https://www.si.com/college/fsu/football/...-landscape

Given the source, this is obviously something that ESPN wants said. So, is this just to drive more engagement and outrage or is this ESPN's way of accomplishing something?

The week before Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC Finebaum said Texas would never join the SEC and Oklahoma would go wherever Texas did.

He's a pile of realignment disinformation and has been all the way back to 1992.

I don't see the SEC turning away two schools in the Deep South that fit their profile so well. Miami does add a new market. But FSU gives the SEC the super majority of viewers of college sports in the state of Florida.

Clemson is a bit touchier of a subject, but not enough I think to cost them. They bring the attendance and travel crowds we look for.

I think Finebaum is putting up a ruse for the SEC taking all 7.

He has hinted many times that Notre Dame could come the SEC's way, so I don't look for that to happen, even though it certainly could.

Now if Tony Barnhardt says something you can listen. Paul likes to razz callers and he has quite a few from Clemson and a few regulars from FSU.

BTW: He also has to make it appear as though ESPN has nothing to do with it.

I wish the world could have heard his egging on of Harvey Updyke essentially telling the guy to put up or shut up on doing something to Auburn. Then he turns around and acts shocked. His ass should have been charged with Updyke's! He's nothing but a yellow journalist and muckraker.

Does Finebaum get higher ratings by stoking fires with fan bases in his footprint or by intellectually examining a situation? Well, obviously it's the former. Jerry Springer never got ratings by trying to appeal to anything other than raw emotion. So yeah, I think Finebaum is used to distract because he's a loud voice and his schtick is to get fans to yell at each other so takes like these are just on brand for him.

I've always said that Finebaum is the Jerry Springer of sports and not a legitimate journalist.

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Regarding Finebaum following orders (direct or very subtle/indirect)...in this era at ESPN he will be wise to do so if he wants to keep getting that huge paycheck. He's not irreplaceable. I certainly wouldn't miss him.

(05-25-2023 07:30 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Finebaum is a highly paid tool. I don't give much credence in his words or opinions.

FSU is the no brainer of the group. I just didn't know how UF would feel about it, but A&M probably wasn't crazy about UT. Somethings you have to look at the chess board and the remaining pieces.

The trifecta of Miami, Clemson, and FSU has to be in the SEC lineup turning their sights on a NC school (NC population 11 million and growing). UNC has to be first look, but something tells me it's NCSU. UNC culture is not SEC and more in tune with the Big Ten.

Of course the Seminole fan is going to advocate for and claim his school is the best addition.

(05-25-2023 07:48 AM)PicksUp Wrote:  Of course the Seminole fan is going to advocate for and claim his school is the best addition.

I didn't say the best. ND would be the best addition for the foreseeable future. I'd put FSU and UNC as interchangeable in the next spot. I'm obviously biased but that doesn't make it wrong. Go Noles!

Why everyone hating on Pawl?!?

(05-25-2023 07:56 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:48 AM)PicksUp Wrote:  Of course the Seminole fan is going to advocate for and claim his school is the best addition.

I didn't say the best. ND would be the best addition for the foreseeable future. I'd put FSU and UNC as interchangeable in the next spot. I'm obviously biased but that doesn't make it wrong. Go Noles!

Come on, everyone knows Notre Dame is not looking for a new relationship! They dont count.

(05-25-2023 08:19 AM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:56 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:48 AM)PicksUp Wrote:  Of course the Seminole fan is going to advocate for and claim his school is the best addition.

I didn't say the best. ND would be the best addition for the foreseeable future. I'd put FSU and UNC as interchangeable in the next spot. I'm obviously biased but that doesn't make it wrong. Go Noles!

Come on, everyone knows Notre Dame is not looking for a new relationship! They dont count.

Oh I agree...which is why a couple of weeks ago I didn't even assign them a ranking of who would be at the top of the SEC/B1G wish list. FSU/UNC at the top, if we're being realistic.

(05-25-2023 07:30 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Regarding Finebaum following orders (direct or very subtle/indirect)...in this era at ESPN he will be wise to do so if he wants to keep getting that huge paycheck. He's not irreplaceable. I certainly wouldn't miss him.

Oh, I agree that FSU is very much on the short list, they're probably top 2 for the SEC and top 4 for the B1G. It's more of a "do we really NEED to add anybody" situation right now, especially considering that the ACC does not appear to be breaking apart quite yet. If/when FSU gets their freedom, and the very real threat of them joining the B1G stares us in the face, I'm confident that Sankey will be happy to welcome them.

As for the FSU ceiling being higher than Nebraska's, I disagree. Both of you have a ceiling of "top 5 Brand and regular Playoffs participant". Nebraska has more enthusiastic booster/fan support, but FSU has better geography, those 2 are probably about a wash. And, remember, we're comparing FSU of today to Nebraska of 2010, before their decade of B1G hazing took some of the luster off their Brand.

(05-25-2023 07:44 AM)Pirate Rep Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:30 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Finebaum is a highly paid tool. I don't give much credence in his words or opinions.

FSU is the no brainer of the group. I just didn't know how UF would feel about it, but A&M probably wasn't crazy about UT. Somethings you have to look at the chess board and the remaining pieces.

The trifecta of Miami, Clemson, and FSU has to be in the SEC lineup turning their sights on a NC school (NC population 11 million and growing). UNC has to be first look, but something tells me it's NCSU. UNC culture is not SEC and more in tune with the Big Ten.

Our BoR vote was 8-1 in favor of UT invite. That probably mirrors pretty closely our fan base, even today. 10% of us are very reactionary and angry/fearful of increased competition joining us in the SEC, the other 90% realize that this is a chess match, and if we didn't invite OUT then they were going to the B1G. Even with OUT, we're struggling to keep up with the B1G on media rights, imagine what the gap would have been if they'd gone that direction instead of a more Southeasterly one. $15m? $20m? OUT was a foregone conclusion the minute they wanted in, and I for one welcome it.

FSU and other ACC schools are a different situation, however. There's no combination of non P2 schools (other than the Indy one we don't talk about) that will move the needle appreciably these days. The B1G could grab UW, UNC, FSU and Clemson tomorrow and their deal would pay about the same. The SEC could grab the 4 best ACC Brands, and our deal would remain about the same.

I think that both the P2 are starting to realize that raiding each other, or, more likely, a merger, is our next big step. That doesn't mean that we won't pick up a few schools here and there along the way, however, but it's just jockeying for position.

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA.

I think we are better served going after UNC/UVA. Virgin territory that extends into the DC market.

Having said that, yeah, if FSU/Clemson are sitting there for the taking, I don't think the SEC should pass on them. To me, FSU is a no-brainer.

I don't want to double up in SC, frankly, but JR's right in that Clemson fills their very large stadium and they road. I think you take Clemson if only to be sure the B1G doesn't. But would the B1G take Clemson? The B12 certainly would, but do we care about the B12?

Assuming the ACC is sufficiently raided, my wonder is GT. Assuming GT wants the SEC, does the SEC pass on GT and let the B1G into Atlanta and GA? GA is prime SEC recruiting country right there. Ditto FL and Miami.

IOW, should the SEC protect FL, GA, and SC - all of the deepest south? It might take going to 24 but maybe 24 is worth it in the long run?

(05-25-2023 01:17 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:44 AM)Pirate Rep Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:30 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Finebaum is a highly paid tool. I don't give much credence in his words or opinions.

FSU is the no brainer of the group. I just didn't know how UF would feel about it, but A&M probably wasn't crazy about UT. Somethings you have to look at the chess board and the remaining pieces.

The trifecta of Miami, Clemson, and FSU has to be in the SEC lineup turning their sights on a NC school (NC population 11 million and growing). UNC has to be first look, but something tells me it's NCSU. UNC culture is not SEC and more in tune with the Big Ten.

Our BoR vote was 8-1 in favor of UT invite. That probably mirrors pretty closely our fan base, even today. 10% of us are very reactionary and angry/fearful of increased competition joining us in the SEC, the other 90% realize that this is a chess match, and if we didn't invite OUT then they were going to the B1G. Even with OUT, we're struggling to keep up with the B1G on media rights, imagine what the gap would have been if they'd gone that direction instead of a more Southeasterly one. $15m? $20m? OUT was a foregone conclusion the minute they wanted in, and I for one welcome it.

FSU and other ACC schools are a different situation, however. There's no combination of non P2 schools (other than the Indy one we don't talk about) that will move the needle appreciably these days. The B1G could grab UW, UNC, FSU and Clemson tomorrow and their deal would pay about the same. The SEC could grab the 4 best ACC Brands, and our deal would remain about the same.

I think that both the P2 are starting to realize that raiding each other, or, more likely, a merger, is our next big step. That doesn't mean that we won't pick up a few schools here and there along the way, however, but it's just jockeying for position.

You don't think the B1G's deal would change if they grabbed, say, FSU and UNC? Feel free to throw in a VA school or whatever.

(05-24-2023 04:37 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  If the SEC doesn't take FSU and Clemson, then the B1G will 100% take them. With that said, I will be shocked if FSU and Clemson end up in any conference other than the SEC.

I have heard that the SEC does covet both those schools and is rather "meh" on Miami. Obviously, Notre Dame is the big prize but the B1G is their likely landing place.

(05-25-2023 01:04 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  Oh, I agree that FSU is very much on the short list, they're probably top 2 for the SEC and top 4 for the B1G. It's more of a "do we really NEED to add anybody" situation right now, especially considering that the ACC does not appear to be breaking apart quite yet. If/when FSU gets their freedom, and the very real threat of them joining the B1G stares us in the face, I'm confident that Sankey will be happy to welcome them.

As for the FSU ceiling being higher than Nebraska's, I disagree. Both of you have a ceiling of "top 5 Brand and regular Playoffs participant". Nebraska has more enthusiastic booster/fan support, but FSU has better geography, those 2 are probably about a wash. And, remember, we're comparing FSU of today to Nebraska of 2010, before their decade of B1G hazing took some of the luster off their Brand.

Say it with me: "The days of partial qualifiers are over."

(And with pretty much every CFB game on TV no one has to go play in a cornfield for notoriety anymore.)

(05-25-2023 03:39 PM)Aztecgolfer Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 04:37 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  If the SEC doesn't take FSU and Clemson, then the B1G will 100% take them. With that said, I will be shocked if FSU and Clemson end up in any conference other than the SEC.

I have heard that the SEC does covet both those schools and is rather "meh" on Miami. Obviously, Notre Dame is the big prize but the B1G is their likely landing place.

There was never a blackball against in state rivals by SEC schools. It was a Clay Travis BS invention born out of wholly missing the news out of the conference meeting in 2011. Slive asked that rivals not nominate their rivals until the renegotiation clause with ESPN was activated by adding 2 new markets. He then promised they would never have that impingement again. Why did he promise this? South Carolina wanted to nominate Clemson and Florida wanted to nominate Florida State (for the second time as the did in 1991 as well).

In a interview yesterday Sankey was pressed on the SEC's priorities in any future realignment. Sankey's reply was that the SEC would be conscious of the importance of rivalries.

Nothing in that remark aligns with the nonsense that Paul and the former Alabama QB are tossing out to drive hits.

If you took Sankey at his word that might mean any of the M7. FSU and Miami are rivals of Florida. Clemson is the rival of South Carolina. Virginia and Virginia Tech are rivals. UNC, N.C. State, and possibly Duke are all rivals. It might open the door for Kansas with Missouri, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State as well.

It will depend upon 2 things IMO. What does ESPN really intend for the ACC? If they want to keep and build them then any SEC expansion will be to the West. If ESPN simply wants to build a dominant SEC as a Super 2 Conference it could be only the ACC or both ACC and Big 12 schools. Thinking Kansas on the latter.

UCF have surpass Miami as the team number 3 in the state of Florida. Miami is losing out because of the pro team.

(05-25-2023 01:17 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:44 AM)Pirate Rep Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 07:30 AM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  

(05-25-2023 01:25 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(05-24-2023 05:44 PM)GarnetAndBlue Wrote:  Finbaum is repetitive on this topic. And he does as he’s told, no doubt.

Yeah, I bet Finebaum is great at following orders. /sarcasm

It's just his opinion, and it's not THAT crazy. Clemson and FSU are natural fits for what the SEC is right now, but they're kind of like Oregon/Washington for the B1G: additive, but not by very much. Perhaps Finebaum thinks that we have enough big Football Brands. Perhaps he thinks we're better served going after UNC/UVA. Perhaps he thinks basketball will be on the rise very soon and schools like Kansas and Duke will be more interesting. I don't know. But what I have read is that Clemson and FSU are worth right around the SEC's breakeven point of $75m.

When you go back and look at B1G adds over the past 3 decades, there have not been any schools similar to FSU or Clemson. Well, Nebraska, but the FSU of today is a bit weaker than 2010 Nebraska in every single metric. Not AAU. Not quite a Flagship. 1 title a decade ago but .500 since Jimbo left. Not quite the same following/fan enthusiasm as Nebraska. Does that mean the B1G wouldn't add FSU if the SEC for some reason hesitated? I think that they would, and I think that the SEC won't hesitate so it's a moot point, but I think that 2 reasonable people could disagree on the topic.

The ceiling for FSU is also much higher than Nebraska's and they put a heckuva lot more national eyeballs on TV's - from folks who love or hate the Noles. Throw in FSU's increasingly beneficial location (the Panhandle to its immediate west is going to boom - easily my favorite part of FL these days), and the rapid & significant growth of the university in all respects. And its football program currently appears healthier than any other school in the state. FSU is very much on the SEC (slam dunk) and B1G short lists for consideration.

Finebaum is a highly paid tool. I don't give much credence in his words or opinions.

FSU is the no brainer of the group. I just didn't know how UF would feel about it, but A&M probably wasn't crazy about UT. Somethings you have to look at the chess board and the remaining pieces.

The trifecta of Miami, Clemson, and FSU has to be in the SEC lineup turning their sights on a NC school (NC population 11 million and growing). UNC has to be first look, but something tells me it's NCSU. UNC culture is not SEC and more in tune with the Big Ten.

Our BoR vote was 8-1 in favor of UT invite. That probably mirrors pretty closely our fan base, even today. 10% of us are very reactionary and angry/fearful of increased competition joining us in the SEC, the other 90% realize that this is a chess match, and if we didn't invite OUT then they were going to the B1G. Even with OUT, we're struggling to keep up with the B1G on media rights, imagine what the gap would have been if they'd gone that direction instead of a more Southeasterly one. $15m? $20m? OUT was a foregone conclusion the minute they wanted in, and I for one welcome it.

FSU and other ACC schools are a different situation, however. There's no combination of non P2 schools (other than the Indy one we don't talk about) that will move the needle appreciably these days. The B1G could grab UW, UNC, FSU and Clemson tomorrow and their deal would pay about the same. The SEC could grab the 4 best ACC Brands, and our deal would remain about the same.

I think that both the P2 are starting to realize that raiding each other, or, more likely, a merger, is our next big step. That doesn't mean that we won't pick up a few schools here and there along the way, however, but it's just jockeying for position.

^ This. Even the SEC merging w/ half the ACC would be dilutive. Past mentions of the B1G swallowing the PAC whole would have been dilutive. Maybe UW/UO/Stanf or FSU/Clemson/UNC/UVA or KU aren't significantly dilutive. Beyond the aforementioned schools and the single obvious accretive school, any other adds would have to be justified by cultural/geographic/academic reasons rather than fiscal reasons.

Neither of the P2 seems powerful enough to lure the other's largest (or even second-tier) brands. A full on merger preserves per school revenue (and provides leverage for an increase), and a full scale merger booting the least valuable schools could result in a substantial increase per school.