Is Clemson leaving ACC? Tigers sue P5 conference for massive $140,000,000 exit fee

The Clemson Tigers are suing the ACC over the Grant of Rights and enforceability of its withdrawal fees.

Clemson is one of the many schools in the ACC that are exploring the potential options to leave the conference. According to online court filings in Pickens County, South Carolina, Clemson filed a lawsuit against the ACC:

“College athletics is at a crossroads,” the lawsuit reads, via the State, and the ACC’s “erroneous assertions” all “separately (hinder) Clemson’s ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members, and to obtain full value for its future media rights.”

Part of the lawsuit also claims the following:

• “The media rights Clemson granted to the ACC do not include any Clemson games that are played after Clemson ceases to be a member of the ACC”
• “Clemson is not required to pay the ACC the withdrawal penalty, as such a payment is an unenforceable penalty in violation of public policy”
• “Clemson owes no fiduciary duties to the ACC or its other members and has breached no legal duty or obligation it might owe to the ACC by filing this lawsuit”

With the Clemson Tigers filing a lawsuit, does that mean they will leave the ACC?

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Is Clemson leaving the ACC?

With Clemson suing the ACC, all signs point to the school trying to leave the ACC. It has been reported for months that Clemson is looking to level the conference.

Now, by suing the ACC, it's another step towards eventually leaving. However, if the Tigers leave before 2036 when the media rights deal is up, it would cost Clemson an exit fee of nine figures, a reported $140 million.

However, by suing the ACC, Clemson is trying to get out of the grant of rights and not have to pay the fee. Interestingly, FSU has also sued the conference in hopes of exiting the conference.

Why is Clemson suing the ACC?

Clemson has launched a lawsuit against the ACC in light of the conference's $140m price tag if a school is to leave. The Tigers have also disputed the Grant of Rights agreement having a clause that states the ACC will carry on having broadcast rights for teams that are no longer a part of the conference.

According to the court documents produced by the school, the Tigers are siding with the Florida State Seminoles as the two schools take ACC to court. Clemson has claimed that the conference did not hold any voting, nor ask member schools for approval before its lawsuit against the Seminoles.

What conference was Clemson in before ACC?

Clemson was a part of the Southern Conference before its move to the ACC. The Tigers along with several other ACC as well as SEC members were a part of this group. The Tigers won two conference titles in the Southern Conference, before heading to the ACC in 1953.

Since then, Clemson has enjoyed a successful spell in its current home, winning 14 conference titles, just one short of all-time leaders, the Florida State Seminoles. However, with the current wave of realignment, both FSU and Clemson could be on their way out to separate conferences.