Florida State AD Michael Alford said that independence in football is "not a true option" for the school as it continues to sort out its future in the ACC. Alford said that FSU is "still analyzing what our options are," but independence does not appear to be one of them. Alford: "I don’t think it’s an option because of scheduling and everything that comes along with that, and where media contracts are now. But I’m not going to lie to you and say I didn’t spend 10 minutes on it. … Is that a true option? No, it’s not a true option." Alford said his relationships within the ACC and with ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips "remain great," and that his peers "understand he is always going to push for Florida State’s best interests openly and candidly" (THE ATHLETIC, 11/1).