Clemson becomes the second program to file a lawsuit against the ACC

The ACC's two biggest brands are looking for a way out

After what was a whirlwind of a conference realignment cycle last offseason, we are now heading in a similar direction this offseason.

While it may not happen right away, programs are beginning to lay the groundwork for their exits. Florida State was the first program to make it known that they wanted out of the ACC, and on Tuesday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Clemson is also now suing the conference for what they called "unconscionable" and "unenforceable" exit fees.

Clemson, ACC logo  / Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson and Florida State's frustrations stem from the fact that the ACC is well behind the Big Ten and SEC in terms of their media rights deals. Something that Clemson mentioned could affect their ability to compete at the highest level.

"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," said the representation, "which is critically important to Clemson even beyond athletics."

In short, this spells bad news for the ACC with its two premier football brands wanting out. The conference's collapse is something that many expect to happen, but it could still be salvageable with realignment or a merger with the Big 12 if it comes down to it. 

For programs like Stanford, Cal, and SMU who just joined, this certainly could raise levels of concern.