Is humbled, winless FSU trying to make peace with ACC? | Commentary

Running off at the typewriter. …

Maybe it’s just coincidence this is happening now that Florida State is 0-3, but it sure seems strange that the Seminoles are now reportedly trying to make peace with the ACC.

FSU , of course, has been the ringleader in firing legal salvos at the ACC in an attempt to get out the league’s grant of rights media contract so it presumably could bolt to the SEC, but according to published reports there are now peace talks going on between FSU, Clemson and the ACC.

According to David Hale and Andrea Adelson’s story at ESPN.com : “Talks between Clemson, Florida State and the ACC have ramped up in recent weeks, according to sources, on a proposal that would allot a greater share of revenue to schools based on brand valuation and television ratings, as well as potentially alter the expiration of the league’s grant of rights — which currently runs through 2036 — in exchange for the Tigers and Seminoles dropping their lawsuits against the conference.”

The proposal, Adelson wrote, was put forth by FSU and Clemson — the two schools that are suing to get out of the league.

Call me cynical, but I wonder if FSU would be making such a proposal if they were riding high at 3-0 right now, ranked No. 4 in the country and in the midst of a national championship run? And would Clemson be making this proposal if they were the Clemson of old — perennial national title contenders who were right behind Alabama as the second-best program in college football?

Maybe the Seminoles and Tigers have been humbled and realize they’re not as high and mighty as they thought and they’re now going to do what they can to stay in the ACC, where the path to the playoff is much easier than it would be in the SEC, which has six teams ranked in the top seven in the country. …

Former UCF coach ‘Heuped’ up to face alma mater: Make no mistake about it, former UCF coach Josh Heupel will be jacked up when he takes his high-flying, No. 6-ranked Tennessee Volunteers on the road to Oklahoma on Saturday to face his alma mater.

Heupel was the quarterback who led the Sooners to their only national title under coach Bob Stoops in 2000 and he would go on to become the offensive coordinator under him at OU. However, after Oklahoma’s worst season (8-5) under Stoops ended with an embarrassing 40-6 loss to Clemson right here in Orlando at the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl, Heupel became the scapegoat. He was fired after the miserable offensive performance against Clemson — the No. 1-ranked defense in the country. Ironically, Clemson’s defense was coordinated by current OU coach Brent Venables.

Heupel was devastated at the time of the firing and, to my knowledge, still hasn’t talked to Stoops since. However, when he was at UCF, Heupel told me that getting fired at OU was one of the worst days of his life but one of the best things that ever happened to his career.

“Thank God it happened,” he said. “It’s worked out great for me. If I had stayed there, I wouldn’t be here [UCF]. I had been under one umbrella my entire coaching career. The opportunities I have had to go to other places after Oklahoma either confirmed things or opened my eyes to things I would want to do in my own program. I’m a better coach today because I left Oklahoma.”

Heupel may be a better coach because he left Oklahoma, but he’s also still a bitter coach because he got fired by Oklahoma.

Prediction: Tennessee in a rout. …

Short stuff: Speaking of Tennessee, did you see where the Vols, in what is believed to be the first arrangement of its kind, will put a 10% “talent fee” surcharge on tickets to help pay athletes as part of the new revenue-sharing plan set to begin in 2025? In related news, the Seminoles and Gators should ask their athletes for a 10% refund so they can pass it on to their beleaguered fans. … Why do I still have Kyle Pitts on my fantasy team? …  In answer to a question by the Sentinel’s Edgar Thompson, UF coach Billy Napier says he still thinks there’s a path to save his job. Unfortunately, the path goes over Mount Everest, through the Amazon Rainforest, into the jaws of an active volcano and is blocked by a bunch of Gator fans with pitchforks. … Memo to Gator Nation: If you fire Napier and Lane Kiffin doesn’t take the job, then what? …

Speaking of Kiffin: After his Ole Miss Rebels clobbered Wake Forest on Saturday, he ripped the Demon Deacons for violating “an unwritten rule” by buying its way out of next year’s matchup, leaving the Rebels in search of another major conference opponent. Which leads us to this headline at Fark.com : “Lane Kiffin: ‘It’s an unwritten rule to not do what the written contract says you can do.’” … Blaming FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for the Seminoles’ offensive woes is like blaming your pencil for failing a math test. It’s hard to be an effective quarterback when your team can’t block, run or catch. … Did you see Saquon Barkley drop that easy catch on a swing pass that would have secured the victory for the Eagles over the Falcons on Monday night? It just goes to show you can take the player off of the Giants, but you can’t take the Giants out of the player. …

Five words best describe the quarterbacking crisis in the NFL:  Andy Dalton vs. Gardner Minshew. … Congratulations to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who is leaving ESPN to become the basketball general manager at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. Question: Will Woj, out of habit, tweet it out ahead of time just before the Bonnies officially announce the signing a big-name recruit? And will Shams Charania get it confirmed 2 minutes later? … Mikey likes: UCF over Bye Week by 500 (rushing yards), FSU over Cal by 1 (rushing yard), Mississippi State over Florida by whatever it takes to put Billy Napier out of his misery, Miami over USF by 21, Bucs over Broncos by 10, Dolphins over Seahawks by 3, Bills over Jags by 7, Mike Norvell’s buyout over Billy Napier’s buyout by $40 million. …

Last word: “Thank you, fantasy football, for letting me know that even in my fantasies, I am bad at sports.” – Jimmy Fallon, who turns 50 today.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com . Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen