USA Today claims Big Ten doesn't want FSU and Clemson, but Florida State booster meeting likely proves otherwise

USA Today's Dan Rorabaugh and Jim Henry were simply reporting the facts in pointing out that the Big Ten and SEC haven't shown any interest in expanding beyond their current size; seemingly shutting down any rumors about FSU and Clemson joining either conference.

But let's read through the tea leaves for a minute, since those conferences' commissioners won't make any concrete statements until those schools are officially out of the ACC's Grant of Rights agreement.

If the Big Ten wasn't interested in FSU, and vice versa, why are Florida State University boosters meeting in Chicago? Rorabaugh and Henry shared a post from a curious Noles fan pointing out that there's a meeting in the very city where the B1G's headquarters sits.

All but two cities on the booster tour's schedule are in Florida. The other city, Pittsburgh, is an existing ACC city and sits in a fertile recruiting state in their conference.

But Chicago? That's just too coincidental. Rorabaugh and Henry stuck to official reports, but by even including this tweet, it's clear what the implication is.

Big Ten could eye FSU and Notre Dame, but Clemson and Miami may not receive invite

247Sports' Brad Crawford suggested that FSU and Notre Dame could get a B1G invite, leaving Miami out of the mix.

"With the conference already widening its reach last year to California with the USC and UCLA additions, stretching deep into Florida seems like a no-brainer," Crawford prefaced before saying, "Miami just wants out of the ACC, period, one source said previously. There is a fear, however, among those close to the Miami program, that the Big Ten is only going to seek out FSU and Notre Dame during its next round of expansion, which would leave Miami without its top choice."

As for Clemson, the SEC is a no-brainer in and of itself. With an existing in-state rivalry with South Carolina and a budding two-sport rivalry with Alabama born out of consequential postseason matchups in football and basketball over the last decade, there may be a second pair of Tigers hailing from "Death Valley" in the SEC.