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Clemson has sued the ACC in hopes of getting out of the conference’s Grant of Rights agreement. Doing so would allow the Tigers to leave without owing the league boatloads of buyout money.
Following in the footsteps of Florida State, the lawsuit is the latest hit to the future of the ACC as we know it. But while the Tigers took the same course of action as the Seminoles, their approach to the leadup of the suit was vastly different.
And it could pay off big time for Clemson.
Everyone knew of FSU’s unhappiness in the ACC. It began with the league’s revenue distribution, which fell well short of other leagues like the Big Ten and SEC due to a long-term TV deal with ESPN.
That anger only grew when the Seminoles were snubbed for a College Football Playoff bid despite going 13-0 in the 2023 campaign.
Those around the program voiced their displeasure, with everyone believing an eventual lawsuit to be inevitable between the two parties. With that in mind, the ACC struck first by filing earlier to gain an edge.
That means all matters regarding the case are “subject to the jurisdiction of the state of North Carolina.”
#BREAKING: The Atlantic Coast Conference has filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees that was filed yesterday in Mecklenburg County.
On page four, the ACC claims that “Florida State matters regarding the ACC are subject to the jurisdiction of the state of North Carolina.” pic.twitter.com/6zsYojB8wN
— Alison Posey (@AlisonPosey14) December 22, 2023
The ACC was born in the Tar Heel State, housing four of its founding members in UNC, Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest. Headquartered in Charlotte, many believe those North Carolina schools have historically been given preferential treatment.
To avoid being put in the same position as Florida State, the Tigers took a different approach.
Clemson kept silent before suing the ACC.
About the lawsuit, it was important that Clemson kept this quiet and didn’t give the ACC a chance to file first. The case will be heard here and not on Tobacco Rd.
— David Hood (@MDavidHood) March 19, 2024
Clemson has experienced that supposed North Carolina bias firsthand, which prompted the Tigers to think about leaving the league in 1971 alongside South Carolina.
To ensure homefield advantage in this upcoming battle, the Tigers kept the lawsuit hush-hush before delivering the first blow. That means the case will be heard in South Carolina, not North Carolina.
That certainly can’t hurt the Tigers’ chances as they get ready for battle against the ACC.