College football realignment: SEC reacts to Florida State situation
Some very strong statements from the Florida State president in a recent meeting left no doubt that powerful elements at the school are not happy with the direction the ACC is taking, and that it will have to strongly consider leaving the league, kicking off yet more speculation that we could see another bombshell move on the college football realignment front.
FSU president Richard McCullough called the situation an "existential crisis" when speaking to the Board of Trustees, and since then, much of the talk has centered around where the school could land in a theoretical move, with either the Big Ten or the SEC, and their rich media contracts, the most logical destination.
Where the SEC stands
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey caught wind of that talk and got out in front to say he's happy with where the conference is right now.
"I have been clear that we are focused on our growth to 16 [teams] as we transition Oklahoma and Texas into the conference," Sankey said, via ESPN's Heather Dinich.
He added: "Further expansion has not been a central topic in the SEC other than regularly updating our campus leadership on national developments. We are proud of the stability the SEC provides our membership and incredibly excited about our future."
Related: Which schools could move next in realignment?
That reaction broadly runs in line with Sankey's comments on the realignment question at this year's SEC Media Days, when he touted the addition of the Longhorns and Sooners starting next season that will bring his conference to 16 members.
Could they make an exception?
But some insiders have speculated that the SEC would be willing to make an exception if some of the ACC's larger brand names were to come available, especially when it comes to either Clemson or Florida State.
And both schools were part of the so-called "Magnificent Seven," a cohort of ACC members who looked into whether they could get out of the league's apparently air-tight grant of rights agreement that expires in 2036.
After realizing they likely couldn't, the schools then appealed to the ACC for a change in how it distributes revenue, a request the conference granted in principle, though the details of which have not been worked out.
As for the SEC, things should stay put for the immediate future. But with how fast the realignment process is moving now, it will be on the lookout for any opportunities, just in case.
(Dinich)
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