ACC Commissioner: FSU, Clemson Lawsuits ‘Incredibly Harmful’

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips laid into Florida State and Clemson during his annual football media days address Monday.

The two schools are embroiled in litigation against the ACC over the validity of the ACC’s bylaws and media contracts (including the “Grant of Rights,” the contract binding the member schools together). The goal: Figure out whether they can leave the conference early without paying nine-figure exit fees. FSU’s lawsuit goes a step further than Clemson’s in accusing the conference of negligence.

From the podium, Phillips promised to “fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as it takes.” He took shots at the two rebel schools, saying the lawsuits “continue to be extremely damaging, disruptive and incredibly harmful to the league.” He noted that both schools had signed the very agreements they’re now disputing two separate times, in 2013 and 2016. “The ACC, our collective membership and conference office deserves better.”

But Phillips also cautioned that the relationship between the conference and the two schools “doesn’t have to be evil.”

FSU first filed its lawsuit in December, while Clemson followed in March. The ACC has countersued both schools in North Carolina state court (the ACC’s headquarters are in Charlotte). None of the cases has been dismissed so far, meaning that all four lawsuits are currently ongoing in the dispute. 

While FSU has noted its intention to explore other conference options, Clemson officials have said in public statements that they have no imminent plans to leave the ACC—they just want to know their options.