Paul Finebaum reacts to UNC, SEC rumors, makes prediction on if move will happen

Earlier last week, sources told Inside Carolina‘s Adam Smith that North Carolina could be exploring a move away from the ACC to the SEC. The Tar Heels are reportedly at the front of the pack when it comes to ACC schools looking to move, and it could happen in the near future.

As is usually the case when it comes to anything SEC, Paul Finebaum made his opinion known on the matter. He’s not shying away from the potential of UNC in the SEC, believing that it’s more plausible than ever that the Tar Heels could join the conference.

“I think No. 1, one of the people that we talked to the other day seemed to indicate that the commissioner was involved, and I don’t speak for anyone, but I think it’s safe to know that anyone who is close to, or has been around Greg Sankey, knows this — he has not spoken, formally or informally, to anyone. That’s not how he works. That’s not how he’s going to work, especially in light of what happened a couple of years ago,” Finebaum stated, via McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “It sounds very much to me like people close to North Carolina are floating this out there, probably frustrated with their current position, even though the ACC is now singing Kumbaya.

“We all know that there are a lot of anxious schools there. I’ve said all that as a preamble, to say that I think ultimately it’s going to happen. I took a long way to get to it, but I think when, once we get to this next iteration, North Carolina has always been the No. 1 choice of many people in SEC circles. I think the bigger question is when exactly does it happen, and secondly, who would their drafting partner be.”

Additionally, Finebaum isn’t the only prominent SEC figure believing UNC could join the conference. Greg McElroy responded in a similar vein, thinking that the hire of Bill Belichick is signaling something in the works for the Tar Heels.

“It kind of checks out, Paul. Every single time a team hires a superstar head coach, they seem to be on the move. Colorado is an example. A splashy head coach, they seem to be on the move. Texas hiring Sarkisian. These are not really that uncommon,” McElroy explained. “You can kind of connect the dots back. Bill Belichick now being at North Carolina makes you feel like, you know what, there might be something to this.”

For now, Bill Belichick and North Carolina will focus on the ACC, but in the future? The Tar Heels could be on the move to the SEC, and that would certainly shake up the college sports landscape in more ways than one. We’ll see if where there’s smoke, there’s fire.