FSU and Clemson likely leaving ACC for Big Ten since SEC may not be interested

FSU and Clemson are "gonna leave" the ACC according to college football insider Brett McMurphy, who said as much during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show -- and the Big Ten, not the SEC, could be where the two southern schools land.

“They’re gonna leave,” McMurphy said (h/t On3). “It’s not if, it’s when. I was at ACC Spring Meetings a couple of weeks ago and … basically sources with the ACC told me no surprise, the ACC is going to fight this to the bitter end. Obviously at some point they’re going to have to settle, but the ACC is going to delay that settlement as long as they can.

“Because as soon as they do reach a settlement and there is a number established for Florida State and Clemson to exit, then that opens the door for other schools to leave. The North Carolina schools, the Virginia schools. 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.”

FSU and Clemson belong in the SEC but may break ground for the Big Ten instead

FSU and Clemson have established rivalries in the SEC with Florida and South Carolina, and going to the Big Ten wouldn't take those off the schedule. But given their locations and recent history with schools in the SEC -- particularly Clemson with their series of College Football Playoff matchups with Alabama, though FSU's recent home-and-home with LSU and their 2013/14 national title game against Auburn were notable in the sport as well -- it'd feel right for them to end up in the "It Just Means More" conference.

The B1G would do well to expand into the deep south and they'd possibly surpass the SEC in overall talent with those additions. They've already surpassed the SEC in revenue.

That's a tough pill to swallow for the SEC faithful, but the tide is turning; particularly with the Tide turning to Kalen DeBoer instead of Nick Saban and Brian Kelly's grip on LSU loosening.