Paul Finebaum Reveals Surprising Reason Big Ten Might Avoid Historic ACC Program

It has been rumored that more conference realignment could be on the horizon, with the Florida State Seminoles possibly being one of the next powerhouses to move.

The Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers have reportedly filed legal challenges against the ACC. Both hope to get out of the grant of rights agreement that binds the schools to the league through its television rights into 2036. If successful, this would open the door for them to pursue Big Ten or SEC membership.

While Florida State is a prestigious school on the field, Paul Finebaum isn't sure its academics are up to Big Ten standards. He believes this could be why the Big Ten may not pursue the Seminoles if and when Florida State looks for a new conference.

"I know Florida State thinks they're heavily in demand, but there are some questions about what exactly they bring to the Big Ten," Finebaum said. "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."

According to U.S. News and World Report , Florida State is ranked No. 53 in academics nationwide, placing the Seminoles ahead of several Big Ten teams, including newcomers Oregon and Washington.

Paul Finebaum acknowledges that the Big Ten is in a strong position for the future, which could be a factor in its decision not to pursue the Seminoles actively. However, we will need to wait and see what happens in the courtroom first.

Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals SEC Might Not Want Two ACC Powerhouse Programs