Conference realignment and expansion continues to be a hot topic, and SEC expansion rumors are going around again this offseason.
The SEC, of course, is already set to add Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. But should the SEC further expand, would the conference be interested in ACC teams like Clemson and Florida State?
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum weighed in during an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic on WJOX in Birmingham, explaining why he doesn’t think the Tigers and Seminoles would be great additions to the SEC.
“Clemson to me, quite frankly, doesn’t bring that much,” Finebaum said. “I know it brings a national championship program of a couple years ago. Clemson won twice, but from a geographical standpoint, I don’t think they add anything. I think South Carolina already covers the area in that part of the world very well.
“I think Florida State is similar. I don’t think they’re nearly as attractive as they think they are. Besides, Florida already covers that part of the world. And so I think Miami to me, it would be next. I think it’s an important part of the country. It’s a very populated part of the country too.”
Finebaum added that he thinks the SEC should target North Carolina first if the conference continues to expand.
“I would go for North Carolina first because they really hit a lot of different boxes,” he said. “Number one, they’re the dominant university in one of the 10 or 11 largest states in the country. That doesn’t matter as much as it used to from a television footprint, but they do cover a lot there. They have a respectable football program, they have an elite basketball program, which I don’t think is, again, driving anyone other than maybe a few out west. But they just bring a lot to the table overall.”
Dear Old Clemson has added the Tiger Sack Pack to our online store. Save by getting the Two Pack of signed cards from two of the nation’s top defensive ends, Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas.
Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. 
Dear Old Clemson is doing NIL the ‘Clemson way’, but we need your help to make sure we build a sustainable, repeatable model that will help keep Clemson competitive with the other top programs around the nation.
Dabo Swinney: “We need your assistance more than ever to provide meaningful NIL opportunities. Tiger Impact, Dear Old Clemson and other collectives allow student-athletes to utilize their voice and platform to maximize their NIL opportunities and strengthen their impact in the community.”
Graham Neff:
“Tiger Impact, Dear Old Clemson and other collectives need your support to help provide meaningful NIL opportunities for our student athletes. We are doing things the right way, the Clemson way with integrity as a non-negotiable and we fully support the mission of these groups.”
Join the Tiger Club or Lady Tiger Club to help these great student-athletes and help the Tigers compete at the highest level!
