FSU president: “No communication” with SEC over switching conferences

FSU school president John Thrasher is disputing rumors that Florida State was negotiating a conference transition from the ACC to the SEC.

“I want to be clear that persistent reports that Florida State has been in contact with the Southeastern Conference are untrue,” he said in an emailed statement. “We have had no communication with the SEC or any representatives of the SEC.”

The rumors began flying immediately after it was announced that Texas and Oklahoma were seeking admittance into the SEC, and hit an uptick after a South Carolina local radio host said Clemson and Florida State “have reached out to the SEC about joining the conference,” though interest wasn’t reciprocated due to streaming numbers concerns, seemingly supported by Thrasher himself saying FSU needed to be proactive in realignment in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.

“My point to (FSU director of athletics) David Coburn and to (new ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips is I don’t want Florida State to be left behind. I consider us as part of the ACC, but I also know that we have a marquee name, Clemson has a marquee name. I think there might be people coming after us, I don’t know, but we’ve got to be prepared no matter what the options are.”