Florida State joining the SEC would not benefit LSU football

Rumors of Florida State considering ACC departure has caught LSU football fans’ attention. However, a Noles jump to the SEC would not benefit the Tigers.

LSU football will welcome a pair of new SEC foes in 2024 with the migration of the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. Recent rumors suggest that the Florida State Seminoles will potentially follow suit.

On Thursday, rumors that Florida State is considering departing the ACC circulated social media, and sports talk Web space.

Why Florida State would leave the ACC

This isn’t the first time LSU football fans have heard of the potential for the Seminoles to seek a new conference. Reports were published in February that Florida State and Clemson were unhappy with the ACC’s financial situation. Revenue distribution is among the reported disputes between the football juggernauts and the ACC brass.

Florida State is unquestionably one of the ACC’s biggest draws; thus, the Seminoles’ leadership believes they deserve a more significant piece of the pie. The ACC disagrees, and the impasse might result in Florida State looking for more money elsewhere.

Does a jump to the SEC make sense for the Seminoles? Many LSU football fans seem to think so. However, what appears sensible on the surface is misleading.

What motivates the SEC to expand

LSU football fans must consider why major conferences seek expansion. As such, the SEC’s motivation to add Florida State is not for the sake of gaining another storied program.

Money is the most significant conference expansion motivator. Such is a conversation best understood by considering why the SEC is adding Texas and Oklahoma.

Gaining the Oklahoma Sooners was a no-brainer for the SEC’s brain trust. The SEC footprint will expand into a new geography with the state of Oklahoma in 2024. That means a larger recruiting area for SEC programs like LSU football.

Most importantly, Oklahoma results in a larger local television market. Moreover, the Sooners are a top 10 school in athletics program revenue.

In addition to OU, the SEC is gaining one of the wealthiest athletic programs in the county with Texas. The Longhorns athletics program reeled $239.3 million in 2022 revenue. Such is ahead of Alabama’s $214.4 million and second to Ohio State’s $251.6 million in income.

The Longhorns are one of the most popular schools in the U.S. and will provide the SEC with prime real estate East of College Station. Playing Texas will provide programs like LSU football exposure in the greater San Antonio area.

Why Florida State in the SEC doesn’t benefit LSU football

LSU football already enjoys a hefty recruiting footprint in the state of Florida. Their longstanding rivalry with the Gators provides outstanding exposure to high-profile recruits and television viewers in Florida.

Florida State does not add much to the SEC’s current recruiting or television market. Indeed, the Seminoles occupy real estate that broaches the panhandle. Such area is already, well-covered by Florida, Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama.

The Seminoles are a top-15 school in athletics department revenue; however, they lack Texas Longhorns-like prestige.

All thing considered, adding Virginia makes more sense for LSU football and the SEC. Virginia finished just ahead of the Seminoles in 2022 athletics department revenues. The Cavaliers also offer the SEC exposure in a state where the conference does not have an affiliated school.

The Noles to the SEC might happen, either way

Gaining Tallahassee does not move the needle much, but Florida State could join the SEC regardless.

We are currently on the cusp of a major college football arms race between the SEC and the B1G. As such, the hefty television contracts and attracted advertisers is directly-related to a conference’s size, success, and popularity.

Adding Florida State to the SEC doesn’t help programs like LSU football. Conversely, adding the Seminoles as an in-conference rival doesn’t hurt. There are a lot of Florida State fans, and we wouldn’t mind seeing the Noles and Tigers clash regularly on the gridiron.

It is also worth noting that SEC schools, on average, earned $33.9 million more than ACC schools in 2022 operating revenue. Indeed, the SEC doesn’t need Florida State to continue thriving.

LSU football will welcome more programs to the SEC in the next few years. Exactly which programs remains to be seen.