CBS Sports' Barrett Sallee predicts FSU and Clemson to join the Big 12
CBS Sports' Barrett Sallee went on record predicting FSU and Clemson to join the Big 12 during the next round of conference realignment after settling with the ACC in court; tagging the "Old Takes Exposed" X account as a hedge.
Radio host Greg Swaim revealed on July 9 that the Noles and Tigers were not going to get invites from the Big Ten -- due to a lack of AAU accreditation -- and the SEC, and thus would land in the Big 12.
"As we've said for a year, FSU and Clemson will not get a B1G offer, due to neither being AAU accredited," Swaim prefaced before saying, "But from Vegas the talk is the SEC has now turned the pair down. With new sponsorship the B12 probably won't pay quite what the other two do, but with those two they'll pay double what the ACC does.
"And it won't end there. The talk is the B12 will take six from the ACC."
Swaim's latest update was that Clemson, FSU, Louisville, VA Tech, Miami, and either NC State or GA Tech would be joining the Big 12 by August 15.
"So getting a lot of you asking me which six ACC teams the Big 12 is likely to poach," Swaim prefaced before saying, "Obviously very early in the process, and we'll know who's leaving by 8/15 for the ACC deadline, but here would be my educated guess as of today...Clemson, FSU, Card Nation, VT, The U, and either NC State or GT."
Greg Swaim casted doubt on FSU going to the Big 12
Swaim simultaneously reported that Brett Yormark may not want to deal with the potential headaches FSU would bring to the Big 12.
"FSU getting a horrible national reputation, as is well documented, but perhaps with the Big 12 just losing two of the most entitled fan bases in college football, and adding another this year (Utes), does Yormark really want to add another overentitled mouth to feed with a lot of financial and legal baggage? Getting the feeling the answer may be getting closer to no," Swaim wrote.
Most feel somewhat confident about FSU and Clemson, plus up to four other ACC schools, joining the Big 12 at this point -- but very few want to go all the way and fully commit to believing it will happen.