FSU's departure looks imminent as ACC reportedly finds way to evade $572 million buyout amid legal tussles with the FBS powerhouse 

The Florida State Seminoles (FSU) have been one of the hottest stories since their notable absence from the College Football Playoff despite being undefeated and winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. However, they have had a soured relationship with the conference and are in the midst of a legal battle in an attempt to break the current grant of rights deal and leave.

Things are beginning to heat up as Warchant recently reported that FSU will be leaving the ACC as soon as 2025. The exit fee issue is expected to be resolved by August, which will allow the school to give official notice of its intention to begin the 2025 college football season elsewhere.

With all this coming to the forefront, the ACC television deal is going to be in question, as the estimated $572 million will be significantly lower due to the expiration date being in 2027 and not the perceived 2036. All of this seems to be a massive win for FSU as they are getting the chance to leave sooner and for cheaper than initially expected.

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FSU's departure might decide the fate of ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference is going through a few issues at the moment and if Florida State leaves, it could open the floodgates for other unhappy programs.

The ACC needs to make sure it stays above 15 members, otherwise, ESPN has a renegotiation clause where it can pay less. That would be a massive blow to the ACC as teams would continue to leave and they would be at risk of becoming what the Pac-12 Conference currently is.

Commissioner Jim Phillips needs to make sure this doesn't happen and it looks like he will add lesser programs to "fluff the numbers" like the conference is doing with the Stanford Cardinal, SMU Mustangs, and California Golden Bears.

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Where is FSU's best landing spot after leaving the ACC?

Florida State should be blowing up the phone of Brett Yormark and the Big 12 Conference as soon as possible. There have been rumors that the Clemson Tigers are also unhappy, so why not join as a package deal?

Yormark has saved the Big 12 from ruins. It is now a premier conference in more than just football. With different revenue streams with Big 12 Mexico and TKO Sports, this seems to be the best option.

The SEC seems uninterested mainly because they have the Florida market with the Florida Gators. It seemingly is Big 12 or bust for the Seminoles.