Florida State to Big 12 expansion? Conference realignment opens new gateways for Seminoles to find new home after legal tussle with ACC

It’s no longer a secret that Florida State is seeking a move out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The university filed a lawsuit against the conference in December following its controversial exclusion from the College Football Playoff, and has continued its exit push since then.

While the Seminoles await the outcome of their legal battle, their destination after a likely exit has been a focal point of discussions. The SEC and the Big Ten were thought to be the likely destinations for the school. However, this looks less likely now.

This has opened the door for a move to the Big 12. College football insider Greg Swaim reports that Florida State has been in discussion with the Big 12 through third parties. Both parties are said to be confident of reaching a compromise.

Private equity partnership to aid Big 12 expansion

While the Big 12 doesn't appear lucrative enough to lure Florida State away from the ACC, the new innovation the league is exploring could come to its aid. In a bid to move closer to the SEC and the Big Ten, the Big 12 is exploring some new financial strategies.

The conference is reportedly seeking to make itself more lucrative by taking a private equity fund. A potential cash injection worth up to $1 billion is expected from this deal and could be crucial to bringing in the Seminoles.

"I do believe that given where we are as an industry, having a capital resource as a partner makes a ton of sense. That’s how you conduct good business," Yormark said in his opening address at the Big 12 Media Days.

Florida State makes a move toward Big Ten invite

While Florida State is reportedly in discussion with the Big 12 over a potential realignment, it's still exploring the opportunity of a much bigger conference. The school is currently seeking accreditation from the Association of American Universities to receive the Big Ten invite.

"The FSU Provost today also said he expects Florida State to be AAU certified in the next 3 years while also having over $500 million annually in research expenditures," former Wake Forest Town Commissioner Brian Pate wrote on X.

"Dr. Jim Clark updated over 100 people in attendance at the event held at the Biltmore Estate by the Emeriti of FSU Alumni. Emeriti members are those that graduated over 50 years ago from FSU."

The AAU accreditation is considered important for Big Ten schools, according to Greg Swaim, and schools will only be invited if they have that accreditation. This marks another major move for the Seminoles as they continue to push towards leaving the ACC.