Conference realignment within college sports appears to always be up for discussion, but USC and UCLA’s bolt to the Big Ten has taken the conversation up a few notches.
The media landscape played a small role in the Bruins’ and Trojans’ decision to bolt for the Big Ten, as the PAC-12 continues to struggle in its efforts to lock down a television deal. The ACC is also having concerns regarding its’ future, as seven teams have formed a sort of alliance to find a way to break its contract, which lasts until 2036, in an effort to join another conference.
Among the seven programs, three appear to be eyeing the SEC as its’ next home. Clemson and Florida State both fit the geographic category for the conference and have what it takes to compete athletically and academically. Does that mean that the SEC will reach out to those programs and invite them to join? Paul Finebaum does not think so.
In a recent episode of McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, a radio show hosted by ESPN analysts Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on Jox 94.5 in Birmingham, Finebaum said that neither program will add much to the conference.
“Clemson, to me, quite frankly, doesn’t bring that much,” Finebaum said of Clemson. “I know it brings a national championship program from a couple of 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.”
Finebaum echoes that sentiment regarding Florida State, even though the state of Florida has four times the population of South Carolina.
“Florida already covers that part of the world and so I think Miami, to me, would be next, Finebaum said. “I think it’s an important part of the country. It’s a very populated part of the country too.”
The SEC is set to begin its first expansion since 2012 next season when Oklahoma and Texas are set to join the conference.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__