I found this very fascinating to hear, I would assume that playing in a bigger time conference would help recruiting, not hurt it.

Dabo on how Big 12 talk has hurt recruiting (via Tigernetdotcom)

Dabo Swinney says the Big 12 rumors have hurt Clemson's recruiting efforts.

Today, one day before hosting the nation's top player in defensive end Robert Nkemdiche on an unoffical visit, Swinney expressed his frustration.

Swinney told TigerNet.com, "Listen, if you want to know what going to the Big 12, how that's going to affect football at Clemson, I've live it for about the last month. And it's been very negative. It's been very negative."

"It's really impacted and affected our recruiting. I've had to spend a lot of time re-recruiting guys and assuring them that we're not going to the Big 12."

"So it's been a real distraction and it's been negative, quite frankly."

"That's just been irresponsible on a lot of people's part, some of things that have been put out there. I know for a fact that we're committed to making this the best league it can possibly be and committed to making Clemson the national champions."

"We'd have to completely change our foot print. We have a foot print at Clemson University that's been established for a long, long time from a recruiting standpoint. Maybe they would like to have us, but we'd have to go recruit on their territory."

"This Southeast territory has been our bread & butter. That's what's made Clemson. People don't want to leave here. They want to play in this foot print. That's a fact. I just don't think it wouldn't be a wise decision (to leave the ACC). That's just the football coach's opinion."