Charlotte, NC—–The ACC is currently entangled in a legal dispute across several states and jurisdictions that threatens the conference’s stability. On Monday, Commissioner Jim Phillips addressed the situation at the ACC Football Kickoff, focusing on the ongoing litigation with member schools Clemson and Florida State, both challenging the conference’s grant of rights.
Phillips made it clear that the ACC is committed to defending itself and its members.
“We will fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as necessary,” Phillips declared. “We are confident in this league’s future as a premier conference in college athletics. These disputes are extremely damaging and disruptive, overshadowing the achievements of our student-athletes and the success of our conference.”
The conflict began on December 22, 2023, when Florida State sued the ACC, arguing that the grant of rights penalty was unenforceable and that the ACC had failed to provide adequate media rights value. The ACC preemptively filed its own lawsuit against Florida State the day before, accusing the university of breaching its contract. Clemson entered the fray in March with its own challenge to the grant of rights but assured that it had not indicated an intention to leave the conference.
Florida State later amended its complaint to target former ACC Commissioner John Swofford, alleging that Swofford favored his son, an employee of Raycom Sports, over the interests of the conference.
Phillips defended Swofford, stating, “John Swofford is a respected and honorable leader who guided this conference with integrity and consensus. All members of this conference unanimously signed the grant of rights and agreed to our television contract and the ACC Network.”
If Florida State and Clemson do not succeed in their legal battles, they would face penalties exceeding $500 million each to exit the conference before 2036. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that neither Florida State nor Clemson is expected to notify the ACC of any intention to leave by the August 15 deadline to depart after the 2025-26 academic year.
