Rumor: Brett Yormark's plan for Big 12 was to use FSU and Clemson to get Louisville, VA Tech, NC State, and Miami

Is Brett Yormark a master manipulator? Longtime college football radio host Greg Swaim's sources seem to believe he is, accusing him of using FSU and Clemson to get the Big 12 access to the schools he really wants: Louisville, VA Tech, NC State, and Miami.

"Who will the Big 12 try to grab from the ACC? Well if FSU and Clemson say no, it looks like Card Nation, VT, NC State and The U will be the teams that the Big 12 would like to add," Swaim wrote. "How interesting would the ACC become with FSU and Clemson remaining in a conference devoid of many other quality football teams?

"Perhaps this was Yormark's plan after all, as the ACC money would then become a shadow of what it presently is (and it isn't good now), and at that time FSU and Clemson would beg to join."

Swaim had previously reported those six teams as done deals to the conference, leaving the door open for Georgia Tech as well. Any programs expected to join the Big 12 would do so by August 15 according to Swaim.

FSU and Clemson at record-low value if Brett Yormark-Big 12 rumor is true

Who would've thought conferences would not be all that keen on adding FSU and Clemson in realignment? Given that both have a title in the past 15 years -- Clemson has two College Football Playoff Championships, mind you -- one would've thought that they'd be in-demand.

Certainly, no one could've possibly guessed that the SEC and Big Ten would deny any further expansion unless it was Notre Dame with the Noles and Tigers on the table. But that's where we're currently at.

FSU and Clemson may have learned a difficult lesson in all of this: freedom comes at a price. Getting out of the ACC's Grant of Rights agreement is all well and good until the process of doing so gets you shut out from the top clubs in town; the SEC and Big Ten in this case.