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Clemson Joins Florida State As Latest School To Sue ACC; Could This Spell The End of The Conference?

Clemson and Florida State have now both sued the ACC

Jackson Caudell

Clemson Joins Florida State As Latest School To Sue ACC; Could This Spell The End of The Conference?
Clemson Joins Florida State As Latest School To Sue ACC; Could This Spell The End of The Conference? /
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The future of the ACC keeps getting murkier. 

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Clemson has filed against the ACC today in Pickens County. Clemson is now joining Florida State as schools that have filed lawsuits against the conference. Clemson is suing the ACC over the ACC's grant of rights and enforceability of its withdrawal fees. 

Thamel went on to say that Clemson is doing this because "The ACC's actions interfere with Clemson's free exercise of its rights and are fatally detrimental to Clemson's efforts to ensure that its athletic programs can continue to compete at the highest level, which is critically important to Clemson even beyond athletics..."

Yahoo Sports College Football Reporter Ross Dellenger tweeted that "Clemson wants the Court to rule that: (1) the ACC does not own the broadcasting rights to its games after it *leaves* the league (2) it is not required to pay the exit fee (3) it owes no other fiduciary duties to the conference"

Dellenger also mentioned this interesting quote from the lawsuit: "This public misconception regarding Clemson's media rights interferes with Clemson's pursuit of opportunities with other collegiate conferences."

In the lawsuit, Clemson also pointed out how high the school's exit fee is compared to other conferences:

Back in December, Florida State became the first school in the conference to sue the ACC. 

From Dellenger at Yahoo Sports:

"FSU’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to take legal action against the conference, with a specific aim at the grant of rights document that binds the Seminoles and all other ACC programs to the league and media partner ESPN through the 2035-36 academic year.

During a 50-minute virtual board meeting, FSU outside counsel David C. Ashburn laid out the school’s case against the conference, describing the ACC’s withdrawal penalty structure ($572 million) and grant of rights as a violation of Florida statutes and “unenforceable.”

Later Friday, the school filed the suit in Leon County Circuit Court against the ACC, accusing the league “of restraint of trade, breach of contract and a failure to perform.” The suit also challenges the legality of the ACC’s withdrawal penalties.

“I feel we are left with only this option as a way to maximize our potential as an athletic department,” said FSU president Richard D. McCullough, who was at the virtual meeting along with athletic director Mike Alford and 4,000 others watching the livestream."

ACC
What is the future of the ACC after Clemson joined Florida State in suing the conference? / Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The ACC's future is murkier than ever now with Clemson joining Florida State. It is clear the revenue gap between the ACC, the Big Ten, and The SEC is driving some of these schools to take action against the conference in hopes of exiting. Stay tuned for the latest updates.

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Jackson Caudell
JACKSON CAUDELL

Jackson Caudell has been covering Georgia Tech Athletics For On SI since March 2022 and the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since October 2023. Jackson is also the co-host of the Bleav in Georgia Tech podcast and he loves to bring thoughtful analysis and comprehensive coverage to everything that he does. Find him on X @jacksoncaudell

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