Sports

Clemson Championing For Rival It Tried To Bar From The ACC Paints Hilariously Ironic Picture

#atlantic coast conference
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Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney talking to SMU's Rhett Lashlee at the ACC Championship Game.

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The Atlantic Coast Conference, like many others, added new schools through realignment ahead of the 2024 college football season. Those that made the move into the league included SMU, Stanford, and Cal.

That decision ultimately came down to a vote from ACC members. The additions were made official with 12 of the 15 teams saying, “Yea.”

The process didn’t come without drama, though. At the time, the league was experiencing unhappiness from top brands Florida State and Clemson. Revenue share and television deals were at the center of the discussion.

Both the Tigers and Seminoles ultimately sued the conference as they searched for ways out of their ACC affiliation. Adding a trio of new teams wouldn’t necessarily strengthen their position.

Initially, there were four schools that voted against the newcomers’ entry. Those were Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, and North Carolina State. The ACC needed 12 votes of approval, which it got when the Wolfpack flipped at the last second.

Fast forward to the end of the 2024 season and first-year SMU found itself playing in the conference championship. College Football Playoff hopes were potentially riding on the outcome.

Clemson would beat the Mustangs in that title bout, securing a playoff spot of its own with the win. After the fact, Dabo Swinney made sure to advocate for SMU’s postseason inclusion.

They’d learn their playoff fate on Sunday when they were selected over Alabama for the final bid. Clemson’s locker room reportedly erupted with excitement upon seeing its ACC brethren included in the field.

And why wouldn’t they? The College Football Playoff revenue distribution model rewards conferences for getting more schools into the event!

  • A conference will receive $4 million for each team that makes the College Football Playoff (12 schools) and each team that advances to the Playoff Quarterfinals (eight schools).
  • A conference will receive $6 million for each team that advances to a Playoff Semifinal (four schools) and each team that advances to the national championship game (two schools).

Money is the reason the Tigers wanted out of the ACC in the first place. They were certainly going to celebrate the $4 million payday. Still, it painted an ironic picture seeing Clemson champion for a program it recently attempted to bar from its league.

Players and coaches have little to do with the university lawsuits. They’re just doing their best to win on the field. The Tigers were happy to see fellow ACC representation when the league appeared destined to be knocked out by an SEC rival. Still, that end result is comical!

As it stands, the 11th-seeded Mustangs will travel to Penn State for the first round of action. The 12-seed Clemson, meanwhile, heads to Austin to take on Texas.