As the balance of power in college football shifts more and more towards the Big Ten and SEC conferences, it seems like only a matter of time before some of the biggest college football schools that aren’t under their umbrella get there.
Speaking to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, college football insider Ross Dellenger predicted that two ACC powerhouses will soon leave the conference for greener pastures. Those two programs are Clemson and Florida State.
“Clemson and FSU are not going to be in the ACC for the permanent future… whether it’s two years, three years, five years…” Dellenger said.
Florida State in particular got the short end of the stick a few months ago when they were snubbed from the College Football Playoff as a 13-0 conference champion in favor of several one-loss teams.
Given that the two schools already have longstanding rivalry games against SEC schools – Florida for Florida State and South Carolina for Clemson respectively – the Southeastern Conference really does seem like the inevitable destination for both schools.
But if the SEC doesn’t come calling for them the way it did for Oklahoma and Texas, the Big Ten might look to stamp its footprint in the southeastern United States by bringing them into the fold too.
The Seminoles already appear to be making significant moves to sever their relationship with the ACC and if Florida State leaves, Clemson could follow suit just as quickly.
Are Clemson and Florida State heading into their final years with the ACC?