Paul Finebaum has expressed his belief that the ACC and Big 12 made a mistake by not including Memphis in their recent conference realignment efforts, especially in light of the historic NIL deal the Tigers signed on April 19. Speaking to the Memphis Touchdown Club, Finebaum emphasized the significance of Memphis’s partnership with a major company and suggested that overlooking the Tigers was a misstep, particularly for the Big 12 in favoring Houston and UCF over Memphis.
Finebaum clarified that his perspective isn’t influenced by his Tennessee roots but rather by the significant progress the Memphis football program has made in recent years. However, the question remains: Was he correct in his assessments?
When analyzing the decisions made by the ACC and Big 12, it becomes evident that they prioritized other markets, such as Dallas, Houston, and Orlando, over Memphis. These cities offer larger media markets and established NBA franchises, unlike Memphis. Additionally, while Memphis may lack a professional football team, its attendance figures do not surpass those of Houston and UCF, despite having a larger stadium.
While there may have been a stronger argument for the ACC to consider SMU over Memphis due to the former’s history of success and fan support, the significant presence of the DFW market further bolstered SMU’s appeal. Ultimately, while Finebaum’s remarks may have been seen as supportive of Memphis, particularly given their notable NIL deal with FedEx, it remains to be seen how such partnerships will influence future conference realignment decisions.
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