• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Clemson Files Lawsuit Against the ACC, Following FSU’s Lead

  • On Tuesday, Clemson filed a request for a court to rule on the legality of the ACC’s contracts binding it to the conference.
  • The ACC is now fully embroiled in a legal battle for its own survival.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK

The ACC is now officially embroiled in a legal battle for its own survival: It faces multiple lawsuits from current members that could invalidate the very contracts binding the conference together. 

On Tuesday, Clemson filed a lawsuit against the ACC to ascertain whether the conference’s Grant of Rights (which binds schools to a conference for the lifespan of its media contract) is legally enforceable—and therefore whether Clemson must face a $140 million exit fee to leave the conference.

The news comes just a few months after Florida State filed a similar but more aggressive lawsuit in an attempt to depart the conference without paying the fee or violating the Grant of Rights contract. The ACC preemptively countersued, trying to assert that a different state court has jurisdiction over the case in the hopes that it will rule in the ACC’s favor. (A motion-to-dismiss hearing in that case will take place Friday.) ESPN, while neither a defendant nor a plaintiff in any of this litigation, is involved nonetheless given its assertion that court documents have illegally publicized private information related to media-rights agreements between the conference and network. (The Clemson complaint, reviewed by Front Office Sports, is heavily redacted—presumably to maintain the private nature of ESPN’s contract.)

Clemson’s lawsuit doesn’t allege the ACC committed the same level of negligence as FSU’s lawsuit does. But Clemson is arguing that if it leaves the conference before the Grant of Rights is up in 2036, the school can still retain rights to its games and theoretically bring them along to a new conference. This is exactly the outcome any Grant of Rights attempts to avoid by binding schools together through a media-rights contract, which they can leave only if they pay a punitive exit fee. Clemson holds that the $140 million exit fee, one of the largest in the country, is “unconscionable” and also legally unenforceable (even though Clemson signed on to a contract with that fee confirmed). Lastly, the school argues that no “fiduciary duties” are owed to the conference.

“Each of these erroneous assertions separately 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,” the school said.

The main motivation for the litigation from both FSU and Clemson is conference realignment—and the pursuit of ever-growing media-rights contracts. Clemson specifically laments in court documents that the ACC is making millions less for its media contract than competitors like the Big Ten and SEC, and that the school should have the right to shop around and see whether it can find a more lucrative conference.

It appears that the ACC’s own comments, both in court documents in litigation against FSU and publicly, have also provided motivation for the lawsuit. “By espousing an inaccurate interpretation of the grant of rights agreements and allowing that interpretation to proliferate throughout the media, the ACC has cast a harmful cloud of doubt on Clemson’s ability to engage in meaningful discussions with other conferences and media providers regarding potential future collaborations and/or to negotiate alternative revenue sharing proposals among ACC members,” court documents say. “For Clemson to move ahead and ensure that it may continue to act in furtherance of its institutional mission, that cloud must be lifted.”

In a statement provided to FOS, the ACC said, “The ACC remains confident that its agreements with all its members will be affirmed by the courts. Clemson, along with all ACC members, voluntarily signed and re-signed the 2013 and 2016 Grant of Rights, which is binding through 2036. In addition, Clemson agreed to the process and procedures for withdrawal. The Conference’s legal counsel will vigorously enforce the agreement and bylaws in the best interests of the ACC’s current and incoming members.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.