Clemson football: Be leery of Florida State during conference realignment

Clemson football fans are heavily invested in what might be the next moves of the everchanging College Football landscape during this phase of conference realignment.

Last week, it was reported that Texas and Oklahoma would be leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC. While the Big 12 conference is still having discussions with the two schools and nothing has been officially filed, the overarching belief from media sources has been that the Longhorns and Sooners will still leave the Big 12 and will file an application to join the SEC as soon as this week.

With Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC, many have begun to speculate on what the next moves might be for the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12.

The consensus for the ACC right now? Try to add Notre Dame and West Virginia.

Clemson football needs to be leery of Florida State in these conference realignment discussions

There may no truth to the report that the SEC has reached out to Clemson, Florida State, Michigan and Ohio State with its eyes set on a ‘super conference.’

But if there’s even an inkling of truth in that report, Clemson has to do what’s best for Clemson.

Over the past few days, we’ve seen this strange loyalty to the ACC- or maybe it’s a hatred of the SEC- among Clemson football fans, but the thing you’ve got to realize here is that money matters and the ACC is a dangerous position.

If the SEC adds Texas and Oklahoma and then calls Florida State– an athletic department that has struggled mightily in the past- you’ve got to believe the Seminoles are going to be listening. Currently, the buyout to leave the ACC is set at around $50 million and Florida State was not on-board with the conference raising the buyout to that price a few years ago when the ACC Network was put into motion. Yes, I understand Grant of Rights is a different thing, but ESPN owning the SEC Network could make things a little more murky.

If the SEC- which will have all the money power it desires and more- offers to help FSU get out of the ACC, you better believe the Seminoles are gone. If Clemson says no, who’s to say the SEC doesn’t come after Miami next?

No matter what the move is, if Florida State leaves for the SEC, you’re talking about a major hit to the brand perception of the ACC. Television revenues- which are already estimated to decline in the ACC with the moves the SEC has made- are going to decline even further.

Clemson will have to try and compete with somewhere between $15 and $20 million less than its SEC competition. How is that going to work out 4, 5, or 6 years down the road when that number accumulates to over $100 million total?

Clemson has to do what’s best for Clemson in this scenario and if the SEC has called, that needs to be explored.

The ACC has had its chances to make moves and it has fallen flat on its face at basically every turn.

Say what you want, but the Tigers are in a dangerous position if the SEC is looking to form a megaconference and they say no. Why? Because Florida State isn’t going to have that kind of loyalty.