CFB insider predicts Florida State to not join SEC expansion amid rumors of Big 12 expansion adding ACC teams

The issue of conference expansion and realignment has dogged the Florida State Seminoles, perhaps more than other program, due to their standing in college football. The Seminoles have fought tooth and nail to break free of the ACC's ironclad grant of rights media deal even taking the conference to court over the matter.

College sports analyst Greg Swaim predicted on X that FSU won't join the SEC (Southeastern Conference) due to the presence of a Florida school (Gators) in the conference.

"We believe strongly that both #FSU and #Clemson will settle out of court soon, as it's unlikely either side wants this to continue much longer. And at that point, depending on the outcome, we believe #Clemson will join the #Big12, as they won't be AAU accredited to get into the #B1G, and the #SEC will not add another team from the state of South Carolina.

"As for FSU, they apparently are very close to AAU accreditation, and as we know the AAU is largely controlled by B1G members and they will take the Seminoles if they are first AAU members, so that'll continue to be an ongoing story," the report read.

It continued:

"The Noles will not likely get an SEC bid for several reasons, the biggest of which is they won't add another Florida school. So if FSU isn't AAU accredited soon, they may only hear from the B12. And independence is an option, but not a lucrative one."

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Florida State Seminoles' options narrowing

The AAU accreditation is the Association of American Universities, a research association body of which all Big Ten programs are a part of bar Nebraska. FSU is close to being AAU accredited, which will make them eligible for a Big Ten move.

On the "Paul Finebaum" show, the controversial ESPN analyst Finebaum echoed the sentiments about FSU not fitting the Big Ten model.

"I'm not convinced that they will want Florida State," Finebaum said. I know Florida State thinks they're heavily in demand, but there are some questions about exactly what they bring to the Big Ten.

"They don't fit the Big Ten model. The Big Ten, I believe, other than Nebraska, has highly accredited schools, and I don't think Florida State really qualifies for that."

With the SEC seemingly out of the equation for the Florida State Seminoles and the Big Ten link looking tenuous at best, should FSU break free of the ACC, the likeliest option looks like a move to the Big 12.