• Loading stock data...
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

With New Lawsuit, Florida AG Backs FSU in Fight to Exit the ACC

  • The lawsuit alleged that the ACC was ‘wrongfully withholding’ media contracts from the public.
  • The content of these contracts, which are essentially kept under lock and key, could decide whether FSU is on the hook for $500 million in exit fees.
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Florida’s attorney general, Ashley Moody, has now officially entered the legal proceedings over the fate of the ACC.

On Thursday, Moody filed a lawsuit in Leon County, Fla., against the conference alleging that it has illegally kept contracts governing its media rights with ESPN secret from the AG’s office and the public. The lawsuit is a clear attempt to support FSU in its quest to depart the conference early.

Moody originally requested the contracts in January, shortly after FSU filed a December lawsuit with the intent of leaving the ACC without having to pay nine figures in exit fees. The FSU suit alleged the conference was negligent in leading schools through a period of change in college sports, and that the contracts that bound it together were unenforceable. At issue: the ACC’s bylaws, the media contract with ESPN, and the “grant of rights,” a document that allows the conference to sell schools’ media rights on their behalf. The conference has held that because of these contracts, FSU must pay more than $500 million in exit fees and other payments if it wants to leave the ACC before the media agreement expires in 2036. 

Clemson filed a lawsuit in March also arguing the ACC’s contracts are not legally enforceable. Both schools were hit with countersuits from the conference itself.

Moody’s complaint, reviewed by Front Office Sports, does not make a case that the ACC’s contracts are invalid, as FSU and Clemson’s lawsuits do. It simply argues that the contracts are subject to Florida public records laws. 

“The ACC is asking a state entity—Florida State University—to potentially pay and lose more than a half a billion dollars but is refusing to produce the documents related to that outrageous price tag,” Moody said in a statement. “We sent a public records request to the ACC in January, but they failed to fully comply. We are taking legal action against the ACC for wrongfully withholding these important public records.”

The complaint begins with a dramatic flourish: “Under secret media rights contracts located somewhere in the North Carolina headquarters of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the fate of hundreds of millions of dollars of a Florida public university is written.” It says the ACC does not allow any personnel, including from member schools, to retain copies of the agreement. Any university personnel must travel to the ACC’s headquarters in Charlotte to read the agreement in person. (It even sneaks in a reference to FSU’s perceived snub from the 2023–24 College Football Playoff—a moment that FSU itself considered the last straw in whether to challenge the ACC in court.)

While ESPN is not a party to this particular lawsuit, it will likely have something to say. The network had previously filed a brief in the ACC’s countersuit against FSU arguing that the media-rights agreement should be filed under seal—and therefore kept from the public—because the contents of the contract amounted to trade secrets. The brief also suggested that FSU may have committed a felony by revealing certain details of the contract previously.

The lawsuit is the latest in a larger trend of state attorneys general involving themselves in college sports business through litigation. State AGs have led the charge in lawsuits against the NCAA’s transfer restrictions and its rules governing name, image, and likeness deals.

The ACC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) and the Alabama Crimson Tide bench celebrate during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.

How Alabama Became College Basketball’s Newest Juggernaut

The Crimson Tide have found success rivaling their historic football program.

NCAA Denies Colorado-Syracuse Spring Football Game

The schools hoped for permission to organize a formal scrimmage.
Matt Weiss

Everything You Need to Know About the Michigan Hacking Scandal

Matt Weiss is accused of hacking athletes’ accounts to access intimate photos.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; A view of March Madness signage and the court before an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Brigham Young Cougars at Prudential Center.

Robinhood Takes Down New Jersey March Madness Markets

New Jersey regulators sent a cease-and-desist letter.

Featured Today

Kendall Coyne Schofield

Kendall Coyne Schofield Wants More for the Next Wave of Mom-Athletes

The Walter Cup–winning Frost captain says small changes mean “everything.”
Dec 21, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to pass the ball against USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) in the first half at XL Center.
March 23, 2025

‘More Value to Be Had’: Were Women’s March Madness Media Rights Undersold?

Could the NCAA have gotten millions more in its latest TV deal?
Mar 20, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Jasen Green (0) dunks the ball during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena
March 22, 2025

Basketball-Only Schools Could See Power Surge After House Settlement Approval 

Football teams might monopolize the revenue-sharing dollars at power conference schools.
Mar 15, 2025; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) after hitting a three-point basket against the Creighton Bluejays in the second half at Madison Square Garden.
March 20, 2025

Perfect Storm: St. John’s Biggest Fans Can’t Bet on the School

In the No. 1 sports betting market, the Red Storm are off-limits.

Prime Pay: Colorado Gives Deion Sanders $54 Million Extension

Coach Prime has signed a contract extension through 2029.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats during the first half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center
March 27, 2025

‘Harder to Turn It Around’: Nate Oats on Building Alabama Before NIL..

“You can’t flip your roster like you can now,” Oats said.
Paige Bueckers
March 28, 2025

Paige Bueckers Says She Will Enter 2025 WNBA Draft

The move shoots down some rumors while inviting others.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen (44) grabs a rebound in front of Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Jerkaila Jordan (2) during the second quarter of an NCAA Tournament second round game at Galen Center.
March 27, 2025

March Madness Shift: Will Other Stars Maintain Momentum Without JuJu?

Paige Bueckers and UConn are the betting favorites to win March Madness.
Mar 26, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd during a practice session in preparation for an East Regional semifinal game against the Duke Blue Devils at Prudential Center.
March 27, 2025

Coaches Don’t Think Cinderellas Are Dead After All

There are no mid-majors in the men’s Sweet 16 this year.
White Lotus
March 27, 2025

Duke Is Furious About ‘The White Lotus’

It’s not clear what the university wants HBO to do now.
Kevin Young
March 27, 2025

A New Destination for Top NBA Assistants: College

NCAA jobs are no longer looked down on in the NBA ranks.