Lawsuits

In a move that could potentially reshape the landscape of college sports, Clemson University has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) over the conference’s exit fees and media rights policies. This lawsuit comes hot on the heels of a similar legal action initiated by Florida State University in December 2022, signaling that the ACC’s two premier football programs are seeking a way out of the conference. The crux of Clemson’s lawsuit revolves around challenging the ACC’s “grant of rights” agreement, which essentially gives the conference control over member schools’ media rights even after they leave the league.

In a dramatic escalation of the conference realignment saga, Clemson University has taken the bold step of filing a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This legal maneuver aims to challenge the ACC’s grip on its member institutions, specifically targeting the hefty exit fees and the conference’s claim over media rights. The lawsuit, filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Pickens County, South Carolina, strikes at the heart of the ACC’s measures designed to discourage member schools from departing.