FSU, Clemson, GA Tech, and Miami join Big Ten in proposed conference realignment scenario

AthlonSports came up with 13 bold predictions for college football realignment, and one of the boldest of the bunch was that FSU, Clemson, GA Tech, and Miami would all leave the ACC and join the Big Ten.

"After Florida State and Clemson receive clarity on their lawsuit against the ACC, the Big Ten moves fast and adds these two programs into the conference," the prediction read. "But that’s not all: The conference also invites Georgia Tech and Miami to move to become a 22-team league."

Miami and GA Tech have AAU accreditation, which is a prerequisite to joining the B1G. Unfortunately, the value of those athletic programs don't stack up to FSU and Clemson's.

Big Ten may look past AAU accreditation to accept FSU and Clemson

FSU and Clemson are probably not making a lateral move to the Big 12 if/when they leave the ACC, and there's a non-existent chance that they'd be taking a step back in their next realignment destination.

That leaves the Big Ten and the SEC as the only realistic options for the Noles and Tigers. According to college football insider Brett McMurphy, the SEC may not have interest in FSU and Clemson with Florida and South Carolina already in their TV markets.

"The North Carolina schools, the Virginia schools," McMurphy said on The Paul Finebaum Show. "Certainly the SEC would have interest. I don’t think they have interest in Florida State or Clemson because they’ve already got Florida and South Carolina.”

That means the B1G has to be where FSU and Clemson land. And the Big Ten will have to look past their AAU accreditation rules -- as they have with Nebraska since the Cornhuskers lost that status -- to facilitate that happening.

The revenue waiting for the B1G in the Deep South will likely offset any discomfort in breaking those rules.