ACC Files Countersuit Against Clemson Over Grant of Rights, Withdrawal Fee
March 20, 2024
After Clemson filed a lawsuit against the ACC calling into question the conference's grant of rights and exit fees, the ACC is fighting back.
Per Chris Vannini of The Athletic, the ACC has filed a countersuit against Clemson in a North Carolina court:
Chris Vannini @ChrisVanniniNEW: The ACC has now filed a legal challenge against Clemson in North Carolina court. <br><br>It argues that Clemson cannot get out of the ACC grant of rights or the league exit fee. (The ACC is doing the same with FSU)<br><br>It also opens by quoting Clemson's president. <a href="https://t.co/mkeEgr9LXw">pic.twitter.com/mkeEgr9LXw</a>
In its lawsuit filed in the court of common pleas in Pickens County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, Clemson called the ACC's withdrawal penalties "unconscionable" and "unenforceable," per ESPN's Pete Thamel. The conference also believes its grant of rights would allow it to continue to own Clemson's media rights even after it leaves, which the university called a "nonsensical reading," "wrong" and "inconsistent with the plain language of that agreement."
However, the ACC is arguing that Clemson took part in and voted for the increase in the exit fee, which Thamel noted was cast as $572 million in Florida State's lawsuit against the conference. The ACC is also countersuing Florida State over the same issues.
The ACC also contended that Clemson originally sought to work with the conference and avoid going to court in the wake of Florida State's lawsuit.
"(While) it indicated to the ACC a desire to engage in productive conversations, it was actually finalizing and preparing its lawsuit seeking to file first in South Carolina," the lawsuit read.
This legal battle is just another example of the ever-shifting landscape of college sports. It appears that the ACC will be next to fall victim to the era of conference realignment.