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The Florida State Seminoles could have eyes set on the SEC should they find a way out of their current agreement with the ACC. While FSU fights a legal battle against its current conference, the next round of potential expansion looms.
Florida AD Scott Stricklin weighed in on the possibility of his school’s instate rival landing an invite to the league, which he seems to take no issue with. That viewpoint differs vastly from one SEC rival, in particular.
Rivalries run deep in college football, especially in the southeast.
A number of those instate series are split down conference lines. Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina each boast a rival in the ACC, and now that the league’s stability is a bit uncertain, some of those programs could be up for grabs in the very near future.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is currently battling both Clemson and FSU in court as the league’s top two football moneymakers look for ways out of a binding grant of rights agreement.
That GoR essentially says that any money gained as members outside of the ACC would still be owed to the league. This would come on top of a hefty conference exit fee.
As the Tigers and Seminoles plead their case as to why the ACC is restricting their financial success, the SEC thrives.
The conference recently signed a massive media rights deal with ABC and ESPN, which is set to begin this season. That contract pays sizably to each affiliate institution, no matter the on-field success.
Watching others collect checks while being tied into a less lucrative deal has frustrated Clemson and FSU to the point of action.
Would the SEC want Florida State?
It certainly seems like it would be a good fit!
The Seminoles boast a massive brand and a history of success while having just posted their most successful season in a decade. The relationship with Florida is well-known, but the ‘Noles have also shared past conference affiliation with South Carolina.
Regional rivalries with Georgia and Auburn could be easily developed – something that would be much more difficult to do in, say, the Big Ten.
With the SEC recently moving out west to land Texas and Oklahoma, a shift back east would make a lot of sense.
Florida’s AD Scott Stricklin was asked about the potential addition over the offseason. He saw no problem with the Seminoles landing an invite.
Florida AD Scott Stricklin on UF’s position regarding Florida State as an SEC member: “We have a good relationship w/our friends in Tallahassee. No school has a veto in this league. If you get ¾ of league to support expansion, we’re going to expand. Anybody who made our league…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 29, 2024
That opinion offers a stark contrast to Texas A&M’s rivalry outlook.
The Aggies fought tooth and nail to keep Texas OUT of the SEC, having just left the Big XII to escape the shadow of their instate brethren.
“We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas. There’s a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12 — to be standalone, to have our own identity.”
-Former Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork
The league went over their heads by adding the Longhorns, though the Ags did get a consolation prize of sorts out of the deal.
Maybe Florida’s Scott Stricklin had this in mind when making those comments about a Florida State invite. Maybe he truly doesn’t care.
Either way, the Gators came off a lot less petty than their SEC rivals!