Story by
ACC considering new revenue sharing plan to end Clemson, Florida State lawsuits | Report
- Story by
- ACC considering new revenue sharing plan to end Clemson, Florida State lawsuits | Report
CLEMSON — The Atlantic Coast Conference is considering a new revenue-sharing plan that aims to keep Clemson and Florida State in the league, according to Yahoo Sports .
Dellenger says the proposed revenue-sharing plan could end the lawsuits between the ACC and two of its top members. Although no deal is close, he said the plan could lead to a revised expiration date of the conference's Grant of Rights, which runs through 2036.
Advertisement
Clemson and FSU sued the ACC over their grant-of-rights agreements, which was the first legal step to departing the conference. Clemson filed their initial complaint against the ACC in Pickens County, South Carolina, on March 19. The ACC responded a day later with its countersuit in Mecklenburg County.
The league filed its lawsuit against Florida State on Dec. 21 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, knowing that the school had to vote before litigating. FSU sued the ACC the following day in Leon County, Florida. Each case continued after all four motions to dismiss were denied.
The Yahoo report said the ACC's new proposal is viewed as a "temporary solution to keep them in the conference ahead of any court decision over the validity of the grant of rights," and it is "unclear if support exists." There isn't much detail regarding the proposal right now, but it would distribute funds "specifically tied" to a school's television viewership.
The ACC paid out $44 million per school in 2022-23, with the SEC paying out $51.3 million per school and the Big Ten paying schools in the range of $58-$60 million dollars per year. The gap in TV distribution between the ACC and the top two conferences could increase to more than $30 million within the next two years, according to the Yahoo report.
Advertisement
MORE: How Dabo Swinney transfer portal approach matches vision for keeping players at Clemson
The latest on Clemson-ACC dueling lawsuits
The ACC filed an answer to an amended complaint on Sept. 5, demanding a jury to decide whether Clemson's lawsuit in Pickens County prevails. This came after South Carolina judge Perry H. Gravely upheld his July 12 verbal bench ruling in a written order filed in Pickens County, allowing Clemson's case against the league to proceed.
In North Carolina, a judge ruled on the ACC's countersuit against Clemson in Mecklenburg County on July 10 when Louis A. Bledsoe III denied Clemson's motion to stay and rejected, in part, its motion to dismiss the league's countersuit.
Advertisement
Clemson filed a notice of appeal to the North Carolina supreme court, triggering an "automatic stay," until the appeal has been resolved. A stay is a ruling by a court to stop or suspend a proceeding or trial temporarily or indefinitely.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: ACC revenue plan could end Clemson, FSU lawsuits, increase pay | Report
