North Carolina Plans ACC Exit Amid $165M SEC Move Talks

College football analyst Paul Finebaum has expressed skepticism about Florida State University's desirability in the ongoing conference realignment, suggesting that Clemson holds more appeal due to consistent success and higher-profile matchups. Meanwhile, there is growing buzz around the University of North Carolina (UNC) potentially moving from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with insiders indicating that this discussion is being floated from within UNC rather than initiated by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. Finebaum and other prominent figures believe UNC is the top candidate for SEC expansion, although the financial barrier posed by hefty ACC exit fees could delay any move until those fees decrease in the early 2030s. The hiring of NFL legend Bill Belichick as UNC's head coach is seen by some as a signal of the program’s ambitions and possible realignment plans. Despite UNC’s moderate football success historically, the program’s evolving position and internal frustrations with the ACC are fueling speculation that a shift to the SEC is likely at some point. SEC commissioner Sankey, however, has not formally engaged in realignment talks, underscoring that any eventual move will be carefully negotiated and timed.