Fact or Fiction: Who's Next for the Big XII, FSU Departing the ACC, Big Ten's Next Targets

In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are next for the Big 12.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Arizona is gone, that’s clear. And the Big 12 has hinted they only want one more, but let’s be real: expansion won’t stop anytime soon. And if you slow down (à la Larry Scott in 2011), you’re doomed. They will keep the pedal to the metal and add these three teams while they can. Utah and BYU are a natural fit, and the Sun Devils and Wildcats are tied together politically in-state in some ways.

Oct 26, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff during Pac-12 Media Day at Pac-12 Network Studios.

2. FSU leaves the ACC eventually.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

It’s a broad question I know and leaves for a wide, wide timeframe. But this comes down to whether the ACC survives or not, and I think they will. FSU is looking into an exit strategy, and have been for a while, to the point of borrowing against future losses with return payments at a low rate. Think of a home improvement loan on steroids. But every way I look at it, FSU would be shooting themselves in the foot (and possibly head), giving up $300 million or so of revenue to leave. The Grant of Rights appears ironclad by most, and it would be unbelievably costly to leave. I think the ACC reworks the revenue distribution in the end and keeps FSU and a few others happy as their only chance of conference survival.

Florida State University Athletic Director Michael Alford stands on the sidelines as the war chant is played by the Marching Chiefs before kickoff of the game between the Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

3. Oregon, Washington, Stanford, and Cal are next to the Big Ten.

Farrell’s take: FACT

This is the next step for the Big Ten and has been since USC and UCLA were closed. The academics of Cal and Stanford are crucial and they are California travel partners for the Trojans and Bruins and Washington and Oregon are hot programs with great fan support. All four will take less to start, and each is begging the Big Ten to take them.