Buy/Sell: If Florida State loses tonight, the FSU administration and athletic department finally decides they need to be in the SEC and starts going through the behind-the-scenes channels to make that happen.

This is NOT a buy/sell of whether FSU joins the SEC. The SEC's current #1 expansion priority is adding new tv markets for the SEC Network, and FSU doesn't do that. Plus, Florida would strongly object and Georgia, SC, Kentucky, and Texas A&M wouldn't like the precedent (and supposedly have a handshake deal to all vote down in-state expansion), so FSU would have a lot of hurdles to overcome.

Nonetheless, I'm buying. If Auburn wins, it's probably because they were battle-tested and not intimidated by Florida State's talent. A loss shows Florida State that they can't pound 10 scrubs a year and expect to know how to beat an elite team who has already beaten several elite teams. It's only going to get harder with the playoff

Florida State has elite talent, an elite program, elite fans, etc. But for the best chance at the sustained postseason success they want, they need the annual baptism by fire of the SEC. With a loss tonight, I think their athletic department will finally understand that.