Clemson and Florida State are resolving their disputes with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The two schools are settling their legal issues with the league, and both are expected to remain members of the conference.
The schools had previously filed lawsuits aiming to secure additional revenue from television deals and had explored the possibility of leaving the ACC for another conference. However, with this settlement, the ACC appears to have achieved stability for the time being.
“This resolution marks the beginning of the next chapter for our storied league and further solidifies the ACC as a premier conference,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips in a statement. “As we look toward the long-term future, I want to thank the ACC Board of Directors for their leadership, patience, and dedication throughout this process.”
Phillips emphasized that the ACC has been competing at a high level for over 70 years, and the new structure of the league is designed to incentivize its membership based on performance and viewership. He also highlighted the ongoing partnership with ESPN, which will help the ACC focus on its collective future, with Clemson and Florida State remaining part of the 18-member conference.
According to the release, lawsuits in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina will be dismissed as part of the settlement.
This agreement comes at a critical time as the ACC continues to navigate challenges in conference realignment.
The ACC is fighting for footing in conference realignment
The ACC faced significant challenges during the last round of conference realignment, as it worked to stay solvent. In an effort to broaden its reach, the conference added California and Stanford, extending its footprint to the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, SMU joined from Texas to further strengthen the league.
With the landscape of college athletics undergoing rapid changes, schools are exploring new ways to generate revenue. A new revenue-sharing system, which will require NCAA schools to pay players, has driven many schools to seek innovative ways to raise funds.
Clemson and Florida State pushed for changes to the ACC’s media rights agreements to secure additional revenue. As part of the settlement, the league will restructure its media rights model to incentivize schools based on television ratings and viewership.
“This settlement allows Clemson to remain nationally competitive at the highest levels and also strengthens our conference,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements in the ACC release. “I appreciate the efforts of the ACC members and Commissioner Phillips in creating this innovative conference model.”
The ACC now includes 18 schools, though Notre Dame participates as an independent in football.
