Inside The Panthers

ACC's Grant-of-Rights to Save, Not Sink Conference

What was once seen as a massive liability is now the ACC’s biggest trump card against an incursion on its membership.

Stephen Thompson

ACC's Grant-of-Rights to Save, Not Sink Conference
ACC's Grant-of-Rights to Save, Not Sink Conference /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have been one of the many athletic departments left in limbo by the rumors of widespread conference realignment. Their home conference, the ACC appeared to be on the verge of imminent collapse as rumors that some of the league's most prominent and profitable schools were exploring ways to ditch the grant-of-rights agreement and join the SEC. 

They were somewhat dubious rumors to begin with, but at the opening of SEC Media Days on Monday, commissioner Greg Sankey put the rumors to bed. He said that his conference would not 'get in the middle' of anyone's grant-of-rights agreement, all but assuring that the ACC will not see any schools "poached", at least by the SEC. 

The ACC's grant-of-rights agreement ensures that the league owns the broadcasting rights to all of its members' home football games through the 2036 season. Even the richest schools cannot afford to forfeit that much television revenue on top of paying massive exit fees, which they'd have to do to leave their current conference. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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