Where does FSU fit in? Seminoles football, academics on the rise as realignment rumors swirl
Conference realignment continues to dominate the collegiate landscape. The view is muddled on the clearest day. Schools across the country are positioning themselves for whatever scenarios might unfold from this moment and beyond.
That brings us to Florida State.
FSU, quite frankly, remains one of the biggest and best brands available, regardless of recent football turmoil. Personally, I believe coach Mike Norvell, who has navigated and corrected the mess left by the two past coaching regimes, is on the right path.
Still, he must win on the field to erase any doubt.
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Academically, FSU is a university on the rise, too.
The Seminoles have vaulted in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings over the past six years (No. 43 to No. 19), fueled by some of the best graduation and freshman retention rates nationally.
It's also important to hear the Seminoles are focusing on their big-picture plan, whether that's remaining in the ACC or testing SEC or Big Ten interest. Good because this is a tumultuous time for college athletics with billions in revenue and financial security at stake.
New FSU President Richard McCullough last week at the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Conference at Amelia Island went on the offensive as he shared his thoughts for the first time publicly on the conference chaos.
McCullough didn't shy away from contact either, stressing he had the Seminoles' best interests at heart.
"It's something I'm spending a lot of time on and we're getting a lot of help," McCullough said. "We're trying to do anything we can to think about how we remain competitive. Florida State is expected to win.
"We're going to be very aggressive."
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Let's try to figure this out
With the the SEC and the Big Ten expanding to 16 schools by 2025, leading to two super conferences, the ACC will tumble further and further behind by millions in revenue sharing.
The conference can't make a move until it can add significant money. ACC schools are also locked into the conference through 2036 due to its grant of rights agreement. An exit fee could reportedly exceed $100 million, if not substantially more, per school.
That leads us to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame, even with one national title in the past 24 years, is one of the most significant and powerful brands in college football.
Notre Dame has been famously an independent in football for decades while its Olympic sports compete in the ACC. The league's grant of rights deal includes language that says ND is contractually obligated to join the ACC if decides to join a conference in football. The Irish played ACC football in 2020 because of COVID-19 and reached the conference title game.
Still, Notre Dame marches to its own tune. But does independence remain a viable option for the ND Leprechaun? Does it ignore its contractual agreement with the ACC and land elsewhere?
Closer to home, the SEC has led the conference expansion charge. However, Commissioner Greg Sankey has said the SEC has no immediate plans to add any more schools.
istory has detailed how FSU turned down a lucrative bid to join the SEC 30 years ago, instead opting for the ACC. Any lingering animosity aside, the Seminoles are a natural fit for the SEC due to its location, culture and football history.
Numbers to know: FSU's 73.9 winning percentage since 1976 is the fourth-highest nationally; its 45 consensus All-Americans is 10th-highest; and the program hovers around .500 all-time against SEC opponents.
Why not the Big Ten?
Let's move farther north, and potential snow games.
At the moment, it appears the Big Ten might have the boldest plan.
At some point this season, some predict the conference will announce further expansion and revenue sharing with players. Earlier this month, the league completed a new seven-year media rights agreement with Fox, CBS and NBC that is set to bring in more than $7 billion.
Here's the kicker. The Big Ten recently branched into California's Golden State when it added Pac-12 members USC and UCLA for 2024. That's obviously not a traditional match.
Why not next venture into Florida's Sunshine State, specifically the Panhandle?
FSU could be a trendsetter for the Big Ten due to its location, potential and weather. The Sunshine State is one of the three largest for recruiting and overall population, and features three of the top 25 television markets.
Plenty of Big Ten alumni have also migrated to Florida, which, if anyone needs reminding, has an average daily temperature of 60 degrees in Tallahassee in October. On the flip side, the average temp in Madison, Wisconsin, that time of year is 44 degrees.
More: 'He's our guy': FSU President Richard McCullough believes in football coach Mike Norvell
AAU membership a sticking point
Of course, there's also the matter of the Association of American Universities, or AAU. This exclusive club of "prestigious academic distinction" features 64 universities in the United States and two in Canada and is empowered to attract adequate sums of research dollars.
The Big Ten has indicated when it comes to expansion, it would want any school to be part of the AAU - though it is believed Notre Dame would receive a hall pass. Currently, every member of the Big Ten (with the exception of Nebraska) is an AAU member. Even recently added UCLA and USC are members, too.
FSU aspires to be a member of the AAU.
Membership is by invitation, but it is not an overnight process. (Most AAU school have large teaching hospitals connected to them.) President McCullough appears to be uniquely qualified to lead FSU to this goal due to his experience at Harvard and Carnegie-Mellon, both AAU members.
McCullough is also working to expand the university’s external financial support, especially from the National Institutes of Health. FSU is increasing faculty resources, and building the infrastructure and support needed to attract more research dollars.
One example is the new FSU Health initiative, a partnership with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. This has the potential to transform health care delivery, education, and biomedical research in the region. McCullough has also hired 155 additional faculty, which should help the university attract more external research funding.
More: FSU President McCullough: University hopes to invest $1B in construction, $500M in research
Bottom line
All eyes are on expansion and survival.
The first step for FSU must cross is the revitalization of its football program under Norvell. This will help reserve the Seminoles' spot in conference realignment if so desired and/or the ACC disintegrates.
Expectations must be met this season. The Seminole Nation has been faithful.
Even though FSU last had a winning record in 2017, its television viewership still ranks top-15 nationally over that time. The Seminoles were second behind Clemson last season in games with at least 1 million viewers. And, FSU-Notre Dame in 2020 attracted 7.75 million viewers, peaking at 8.8 million during the overtime period.
This further proves the reach of FSU's brand and visibility.
Many assume that the future of college football will involve fewer power conferences.
Possibly as few as two.
FSU must look out for No. 1.
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
No one covers the ‘Noles like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ACC, SEC or Big Ten: Florida State has big-picture choices to make
