Clemson sues ACC over grant of media rights, withdrawal penalty

Clemson is suing the Atlantic Coast Conference, becoming the second school to take the conference to court over grant of media rights.Clemson filed its suit Tuesday in Pickens County, S.C. Florida State sued the conference in December.The contention by Clemson is that the ACC claims it owns the media rights of member schools to home games through 2036 — even if a school departs the conference. Clemson also says in the suit that schools must pay $140 million to leave the conference on top of the grant of media rights.Those factors 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.”Clemson was one of seven schools that reportedly have been investigating a departure from the conference amid a changing college landscape.

Headlines