Clemson has joined Florida State in suing the Atlantic Coast Conference over media rights, indicating the school may be attempting to leave the conference
"The ACC has also claimed that member institutions must pay an exorbitant $140 million penalty to leave," the lawsuit filed in Pickens County, South Carolina, reads. "Each of these erroneous assertions hinders Clemson's ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members, and to obtain full value for its future media rights."
Clemson filed the latest lawsuit through the Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough law firm based out of Columbia, S.C.
"The ACC has also claimed that member institutions must pay an exorbitant $140 million penalty to leave," the lawsuit added. "Each of these erroneous assertions hinders Clemson's ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members, and to obtain full value for its future media rights."
Clemson and Florida State are among the many that have considered joining new conferences. Florida State actually attempted to leave the ACC last season but failed to draw much interest. It has a similar suit pending vs. the ACC.
Most of these mass conference exits are based on football and the ability to land pieces of conference broadcast right pies. Some may sum it up with one word — greed. But no matter how you spin it, it is indeed based on money.
"College athletics is at a crossroads," Clemson's lawsuit reads. "Without clarity as to its legal rights and obligations, Clemson cannot protect and advance its interests, or the interests of its student-athletes, in negotiations within the conference, with the conference's existing media partner ESPN and in collegiate athletics more generally."
(Getty images)
So Clemson is suing on the same grounds as Florida State, acknowledging as much.
"The ACC's lawsuit against Florida State was filed in response to Florida State's efforts to explore leaving the ACC without paying the exit fee," Clemson's lawsuit says. "The ACC alleges that seeking a declaratory judgment related to the grant of rights violated fiduciary duties the conference now clams Florida State and all other ACC members owe to the ACC. The ACC's erroneous assertions and related actions concerning media rights, the withdrawal penalty, and non-existent fiduciary duties diminish the value of Clemson's future media rights. They have a chilling effect on Clemson's ability to explore and pursue an exit from the ACC."
According to ESPN: "Clemson makes clear that the current ACC television contract, which lags well behind the upcoming SEC and Big Ten deal, looms as an inhibitor to Clemson competing at the highest level. Clemson took part in six College Football Playoffs and has won national titles in 2016 and 2018."
