FSU makes major move towards gaining Big Ten invite

Conference realignment won't see any teams break away from the ACC anytime soon, with the August 15 deadline to announce intentions of leaving likely to come and go without action, but FSU clearly has plans to join the Big Ten.

James Clark, the Provost and Executive Vice President of Florida State, told a crowd of alumni in Asheville, North Carolina that the Noles are working on AAU accreditation -- a likely sign the B1G is on their minds.

"The FSU Provost today also said he expects Florida State to be AAU certified in the next 3 years while also having over $500 million annually in research expenditures," former Wake Forest Town Commissioner Brian Pate wrote on X. "Dr. Jim Clark updated over 100 people in attendance at the event held at the Biltmore Estate by the Emeriti of FSU Alumni . Emeriti members are those that graduated over 50 years ago from FSU."

FSU has been part of every conference realignment rumor possible during the offseason

FSU's role in the next round of conference realignment has long been hard to pinpoint, with all three other non-ACC Power 4 conferences being linked to the Noles.

The SEC has always been the best culture fit, but a power play by three SEC schools is keeping the Sunshine State from having two programs in the "It Just Means More" conference; unlike the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.

The Big 12 was the most recent hot rumor, but those have cooled off after ACC Media Days. FSU and Clemson may have just been pawns in the Big 12's plan to get access to other ACC schools.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten has stayed on the Noles' radar. Clark's update certainly points in the direction of FSU going B1G in 2026.