College football realignment: Florida State's next move against the ACC

Where things stand as Florida State continues its fight against the ACC in what could be the next phase of college football realignment

Another small step in what may be the next phase of college football realignment has taken place as Florida State's board of trustees filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit the ACC filed against the school as the legal back and forth between FSU and the conference continues and the Seminoles seek a possible exit from the league.

In the motion, Florida State argues that the ACC's lawsuit against it is "fundamentally flawed" and the school claimed the conference engaged in a "race to the courthouse" to file its suit against FSU first.

The school also claims that the ACC failed to secure a two-thirds member vote that is required by the conference's constitution and failed to show Florida State's trustees approved of the grant of rights as required by state law, among other reasons.

Should the court not dismiss the lawsuit, then Florida State asked the court to stay the ACC's suit in favor of the suit brought by the school against the conference.

The ACC sued Florida State on Dec. 21 asking for judgment in defense of its grant of rights agreement, the day before the school filed suit against the ACC to challenge that agreement and the $130 million withdrawal fee to leave the conference.

Florida State, in addition to the other ACC schools, signed a grant of rights agreement that is active until 2036, giving the conference control over each school's media rights, including TV revenue.

That is, unless Florida State can find a way out of the ACC and into another conference, where, it hopes, more revenue awaits.

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