Morgantown, West Virginia-based Big 12 expert Christopher Lambert, known on X as C.W. Lambert, reported from one of his sources that if FSU and Clemson were able to escape the ACC, ESPN wouldn’t let the Noles and Tigers land anywhere but the SEC.

“(Lambert’s sources) basically had the same opinion,” Lambert prefaced before saying, “If Clemson and FSU are available there’s no chance ESPN and the SEC lets them land anywhere but the SEC.

“The SEC isn’t going to let all that money jump to the B1G or Big 12. Clemson and FSU are bank.”

This is certainly a much different narrative than what’s been reported in recent weeks. WildcatAuthority’s Jason Scheer reported that FSU and Clemson to the Big 12 was imminent.

“According to sources, there is an internal belief in the Big 12 that Florida State and Clemson are likely to join the conference within the next year or so,” Scheer wrote.

Greg Swaim reported that the SEC turned the Noles and Tigers down already while also pushing the Big 12 narrative.

“As we’ve said for a year, FSU and Clemson will not get a B1G offer, due to neither being AAU accredited,” Swaim prefaced before saying, “But from Vegas the talk is the SEC has now turned the pair down. With new sponsorship the B12 probably won’t pay quite what the other two do, but with those two they’ll pay double what the ACC does.