Paul Finebaum dropped a notable update on the long-speculated North Carolina-to-SEC rumors while speaking on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on 94.5 JoxFM. When asked about the recent noise surrounding the Tar Heels potentially heading to the Southeastern Conference, Finebaum made it clear that the whispers aren’t coming from SEC leadership—but rather from Chapel Hill. “It sounds very much to me like people close to North Carolina are floating this out there,” Finebaum explained. He pointed to frustration within the ACC, even though the league is putting up a united front for now. “Even though the ACC is now singing kumbaya, we all know that there are a lot of anxious schools in there.”
Finebaum was cautious about implicating SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, making it clear that Sankey is staying above the fray. “He has not spoken formally or informally to anyone. That’s just not how he works,” Finebaum said, but he didn’t hold back on the main point. “I think ultimately it’s going to happen,” he said. “North Carolina has always been the number one choice of many people in SEC circles.” While no exact timeline is set, Finebaum hinted that UNC is exploring ways to make the move more financially feasible down the road, likely referring to the massive ACC grant-of-rights exit fee that decreases year by year.
What’s still up in the air is when it’ll happen and who might come along with them. “I think the bigger question is when exactly does it happen, and secondly, who would their drafting partner be?” Finebaum asked. The idea of a pairing suggests a potential tandem expansion move, which has become common in modern realignment.
For now, North Carolina remains anchored in the ACC, but if Finebaum’s instincts are right, and they usually are, it’s only a matter of time before Chapel Hill trades Tobacco Road for Saturday nights in Tuscaloosa.
This is a developing story…
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