West Virginia Cancels Florida State Game

If you’re looking for more evidence West Virginia is likely headed to the Big 12 this fall, the Mountaineers canceled their Sept. 8 game at Florida State, sources told CBSSports.com.

West Virginia originally had its 2012 schedule formatted for eight conference games as a Big East member - that’s before TCU’s decision to join the Big 12. But if the Mountaineers join the Big 12 this fall, they will have nine conference games and had to drop one contest.

As McMurphy explains, the canceling of this game looks like the Mountaineers are gearing up to join the Big 12 in the 2012 NCAA season. West Virginia will have to pay Florida State $500,000 for pulling out of the game less than 12 months before kickoff, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman released the following statement about the game:

We were informed in writing late Friday afternoon of West Virginia University’s intention to cancel its 2012 football game with Florida State University scheduled for September 8 in Tallahassee. We are disappointed for our coaches, players and fans that this game will not take place as originally scheduled. We now face the challenge of completing our 2012 schedule just seven months before the start of the season. We will work quickly and diligently to fill the hole on our schedule and will communicate with our season ticket holders and fans as the process moves forward.

Florida State will now be scrambling to fill the early home game, but McMurphy notes that the best replacements might be future ACC members Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

For more on the West Virginia Mountaineers visit SB Nation’s West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket. For more on the Florida State Seminoles, visit SB Nation’s Seminoles blog Tomahawk Nation. For more college football, visit SB Nation’s college football news hub.