NEW: Florida State, Clemson FOLLOWING NORTH CAROLINA OUT of ACC Is Ultimate Plan for New Realignment
NEW: Florida State, Clemson FOLLOWING NORTH CAROLINA OUT of ACC Is Ultimate Plan for New Realignment  
Podcast: Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
Published On: Thu Jul 31 2025
Description: The current college football landscape is dominated by the financial disparity between the SEC/Big Ten and the ACC. With reports indicating that North Carolina (UNC) is actively exploring a move to the SEC, primarily driven by the pursuit of significantly higher media rights revenue, it's almost a certainty that Florida State and Clemson would aggressively pursue an early exit from the ACC if UNC makes such a move. Here's why Florida State and Clemson would likely follow suit: Accelerated Financial Imperative: FSU and Clemson have been the most vocal critics of the ACC's financial model and its Grant of Rights (GOR) agreement, even going as far as to file lawsuits against the conference. Their primary motivation has always been to close the massive revenue gap between the ACC and the SEC/Big Ten. If UNC, a fellow blue-blood athletic and academic brand, were to successfully navigate an exit to the SEC, it would intensify the urgency for FSU and Clemson to follow suit. Weakening of the ACC Brand: The departure of UNC, especially if it goes to the SEC, would be a devastating blow to the ACC's brand and media value. UNC, FSU, and Clemson represent the ACC's most valuable football and basketball brands. Losing one of these pillars would significantly diminish the conference's appeal to broadcasters and its standing as a "Power Four" league, making the remaining financial outlook even bleaker for those left behind. Reduced Exit Fees as a Pathway: The recent settlement of the lawsuits between FSU, Clemson, and the ACC has provided a crucial pathway. It revealed that the ACC's exit fee, which was once considered prohibitive (estimated at over $500 million when accounting for forfeited media rights), is set to significantly decrease. By the 2030-31 school year, the exit fee will be a more "manageable" $75 million. This timing aligns with when the Big Ten and Big 12's media rights deals are also up for renegotiation, creating a perfect storm for further realignment. Seeking Top-Tier Competition and Exposure: Beyond money, FSU and Clemson want to compete consistently at the highest level of college football and basketball. Moving to the SEC or Big Ten would provide more consistent exposure against elite competition, which is vital for recruiting and national relevance, especially in the expanded College Football Playoff era. "Domino Effect" and Survival: Conference realignment is often a domino effect. If a foundational piece like UNC leaves, it creates immediate instability. Florida State and Clemson would be compelled to act quickly to secure their own futures in a top conference, rather than being left in a potentially weakened ACC. In short, if UNC makes the leap, Florida State and Clemson's departure from the ACC would likely shift from a desire to a necessity, driven by financial imperatives and the need to remain competitive in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.