The Florida State Seminoles have filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging the Grant of Rights withdrawal penalties and fighting against the staggering financial cost of leaving the ACC.
Florida State, the first-ever undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be kept out of the College Football Playoff, has long been considering a departure from the ACC. With the conference not held in high regard by the CFP committee and ESPN having the right to get out of its broadcasting rights contract, leaving the ACC has been under consideration by Florida State for months.
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Following the CFP committee’s decision to grant the final playoff spot to the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Seminoles, Florida State called a special board meeting to discuss the future of its athletic programs and its affiliation with the ACC.
On Friday, the FSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against the ACC challenging the withdrawal penalties for leaving the conference.
“Today we’ve reached a crossroad in our relationship w/the ACC. I believe this board has been left no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of the ACC grant of rights and it’s severe withdrawal penalties”
Florida State Seminoles trustee chair Peter Collins on decision to file lawsuit against ACC
Florida State’s athletic director Michael Alford called out ACC officials, blaming them for things reaching this point and shouldering fault on the shoulders of the “mismanagement of previous conference administration.”
How much would it cost the Florida State Seminoles to leave the ACC?
The FSU Board of Trustees also revealed the current cost of leaving the ACC, which totals $572 million. Estimated costs for the “penalty for withdrawing” include a severe withdrawal penalty that has more than doubled from the 2013 figure ($234.266 million) and the granting of rights to leave the ACC.
Following unanimous approval to launch the lawsuit, the start of a prolonged legal fight, the wheels are now in motion for a series of events that could have a massive influence on the future of college football. As ESPN’s Pete Thamel wrote, the lawsuit starts the exploration process of Florida State leaving the ACC without formally filing paperwork to leave the conference.
Just as important, per Thamel, other ACC schools have explored similar steps that would allow them to leave the conference. While Florida State is first out the door, the Clemson Tigers are believed to be the next team that could start the exploratory process of leaving the ACC.
Considering TV rights deals for ACC football games are largely dictated by the presence of Florida State and Clemson being in the conference, losing both programs could lead to the conference falling apart. While the conference is adding Cal, SMU and Stanford in 2024, two of its long-time partners now appear ready to leave.
