FOX wants to 'plant a flag in SEC's backyard' by poaching FSU and Clemson

Warchant's Jeff Cameron told On3's Andy Staples that FOX reportedly has interest in "planting a flag in the SEC's backyard" by going after FSU and Clemson, schools currently in a media rights agreement with ESPN via the ACC.

“Really, it boils down to whether or not FOX or ESPN, in my opinion, decides that that’s an asset they would go after,” Cameron said. “I’ve heard rumors that certainly FOX would love to plant a flag in the SECs’ backyard or ESPN’s backyard, if you consider the SEC to be that. It would maybe be a wise move for them to do that, to go grab a Florida State and a Clemson. I don’t know who else is on the docket there, but certainly, those are the two that want out and they are making that known legally. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see that, but right now, I know this.

“Regardless of whether the SEC wants them or doesn’t, whether ESPN will decide to salvage some assets and restructure the ACC contract and at that point, decide that this is where Florida State and Clemson need to be, maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t, maybe FOX comes swooping in. But I do know just from the marketability of the program – and certainly, when you talk to TV executives and really, objectively speaking, anybody who follows college football – understands that Florida State is a top-10 or 15 asset in college football, period. It’s really not arguable. The numbers bear that out, too. It’s not an opinion, when you look at ratings and all that stuff.”

FOX is involved with both the Big Ten and Big 12, so it's unclear exactly what conference the network would want FSU and Clemson in. FOX does have a stronger relationship with the Big 12, though, with CBS being the primary network partner of the Big Ten.

FSU and Clemson are options for Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC

The Noles and Tigers have been linked to every single Power Conference. The only thing we seem to know for certain is that they won't be returning to the ACC, because lawsuits always equal conference exits.

Other than that, there are rumors ESPN won't let them land with another network, that the Big 12 will use private equity to help them afford their ACC buyouts, and that the Noles are working on AAU accreditation to gain B1G acceptance. There are no such rumors about the Tigers.

Everything is on the table right now. FSU and Clemson's futures are as unclear as they've ever been.