Clemson suing ACC over exit fees 🚨 Big Ten & SEC becoming the POWER 2 - Pete Thamel | SportsCenter

Michele Steele reports on the Clemson Tigers filing a lawsuit against the ACC for "exorbitant" exit fees, which may be a precursor to leaving the conference. Pete Thamel then describes the significance of today with ESPN and the College Football Playoff agreeing to a $7.8B deal through 2031-32.
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[@smp1965nc]

Maybe ESPN should report on how much they’ve been a part of this. And here’s something around the corner as these “super conferences” form - how long before schools get removed from them? Is Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Northwestern, Indiana, Mississippi State and several others really deserving of being in the “premier football conference”??

[@philipbrister]

Are you guys reporting news or making news? Can’t tell anymore.

[@jamesb0255]

So Elle.... Are you going to tell Clemson to quit whining as well? 🙄

[@marycrockerrohe2371]

How does espn not report they joined the acc lawsuit today with two big time New York lawyers??????

[@lazyakers]

ESPN is the single biggest player in conference realignment.

[@jjj32801]

ESPN reporting on ESPN, need a bit more context and outside reporting on this.

[@davidboniface858]

Thamel is wrong. Cincinnati is literally in the same conference as TCU.

[@larrylane7822]

Yes that is true however, when Cincinnati made the CFP they were in the American Athletic Conference, not the Big 12, so yes, Cindy is in the Big 12, but them making the playoff doesn’t count towards the Big 12’s playoff appearances

[@mtlev9886]

He explicitly says that next year "every other playoff participant [besides TCU] will be in a Power 2 league." Cincinnati, a playoff participant, is in the Big 12 next year. @@larrylane7822

[@Gmac_Greg_M]

@@larrylane7822no you’re wrong. If you don’t count Oklahoma and Texas then you have to include Cincy.

[@GoatedAtNFS]

@@Gmac_Greg_Mthat does not count as Big-12 appearances and your delusional if you think the SEC will immediately claim Texas and Choklahoma, as some still don’t claim ATM

[@larrylane7822]

@@Gmac_Greg_M Who said I don’t count OU and UT, they very much do count because they made the CFP while in the Big 12, so those playoff appearances count as an appearance for the Big 12, not the SEC just because they are moving, and Cincinnati’s playoff appearance counts towards the AAC’s because you were in that conference when you made it, it doesn’t count for the big 12 just because you moved there

[@jacobstrouble6631]

FSU immediately blamed the ACC when they got left out of the playoffs and now wants to join the others. Tbh, I'd continue to support the ACC if they got rid of the schools only known for their football team, not including Miami. I like real student-athletes who I know are stressing about the exams as well.

[@randallmadison9910]

Where? Stanford? Rice?

[@cameronsmarshall6886]

Pete Thamel is terrible at his job. Literally Cincinnati made the CFP as a group of 5 member and is now currently in the big 12. Not to mention that Notre Dame made the CFP without a conference all together.

[@user-nv2yx7lb2g]

Uh....i think he forgot Cincinnati.

[@Tri.dawg1]

He did

[@michaelwall3393]

Cincinnati made the playoffs as a member of AAC not Big12. It doesn’t carry over.

[@curtisshull898]

Way to ruin college football ESPN

[@rx2878]

ESPN literally caused this.

[@noles9998]

You left out ESPN opt out option by 2027 currently there is no contract to 2036

[@Gmac_Greg_M]

That’s incorrect Thamel. It would be Cincy and TCU.

[@garfieldmatthewson5169]

and ND

[@edwardrosemond7169]

If Florida State University and Clemson University leaves the ACC, I will be shocked! Growing up from when I first watch the Sports like this to present! Go Seminoles and Go Tigers!

[@cacogenicist]

ESPN reporting on this topic is ... unseemly.

[@terencew7716]

What is going on with Clemson and Florida State??

[@ricovargas9775]

The ACC deserves this. They started it in the current era by poaching Miami and VA Tech.

[@NoFadaway]

The big east was disbanding you’re too young lol your wrong

[@Btt741]

Not really. All of the ACC schools agreed to the exit fees about a decade ago.

[@TeezyHadaBaby]

@@Btt741 😂no no they just agreed to this a few years ago

[@danielrobinson9493]

They signed this deal and agreed to the Grant Of Rights they can't get out of the ACC no chance no way.

[@dacokc]

@@danielrobinson9493but did all the teams know there was always an option for ESPN to get out of the deal in 2026?

[@joshsalmons1867]

Sounds to me like everyone just wants to fit in. I don't understand why of all teams, Clemson and FSU want to leave a conference that they control their own destiny in. If they move, their road to the playoffs gets more difficult.

[@Wismycadet1804]

FSU and Clemson will not be able to compete with the best if they have 49 million less to work with every year…how can they compete with those numbers

[@bonnzzo]

Don't know how many times this needs to be said............$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. 😆🤷

[@TheMCJ2011]

Money. That’s all that matters.

[@larrylane7822]

Money, but also, as the playoff gets bigger and bigger with how good FSU and Clemson are they would be able to win enough in the SEC to make the playoffs.

[@cacogenicist]

B1G and SEC will dominate the at-large spots, and the playoff will have 14+ teams.

[@peterkeigwin847]

I thought it wouldn't matter anymore since there are more spots and SEC would beat itself out? Smh

[@trclark7689]

You're crazy if you don't believe that there's been backroom dealing with Clemson and FSU. They both have guaranteed landing sports already.

[@grobble8954]

B10 has no interest in either. SEC doesn't need either, they add no new markets they don't have. The schools actually wanted by both are UNC, UVA...B10 also is interested in Miami not FSU. Clemson and FSU are going to do all this to end up in the B12. The reason FSU and Clemson got stuck in the ACC despite all the expansion by SEC and B10 is b/c they aren't wanted. MD left the ACC for just a mere 33M, at that time B10 was trying to get UNC or UVA to come with them. If FSU and Clemson had options they could have skipped when MD did, they didn't b/c the SEC nor B10 wanted them.

[@trclark7689]

Realignment isn’t about markets anymore, it’s about brands and viewers. Clemson and FSU dwarf UNC and UVA in views. The networks are running realignment and want brands with a large audience because they’re selling advertising. If that wasn’t the case, the B1G would be looking at Boston College, Stanford, and Pitt because Boston, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh are all top 25 markets, but they’re not looking at them because they don’t bring ratings.

[@iamishgoddamnit]

@@grobble8954laughable commentary. There was no need to leave the conference back then because the revenue distribution wasn’t as different then. And markets lol? Last year FSU was 9th in national viewership and that’s with playing lame ACC teams no one cares about. The only SEC teams with greater viewership numbers were Bama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. In the Big10 only Ohio state Michigan and Georgia drew more eyeballs

[@grobble8954]

@@trclark7689 Markets and brands are synonymous. UNC draws massively in their market/state, BC doesn't draw in Boston/New England, same with Pitt/Stanford. Yes, it's about markets that's why USC/UCLA were so valuable to the B10 new deal B10 rules one of the largest tv markets in the country and the demise of the P12 means former P12 fans will be watching USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington in the B10. B12 got the scraps of the P12.

[@grobble8954]

@@iamishgoddamnit THEY DIDN'T LEAVE B/C NOBODY WANTED THEM. THOSE ARE THE FACTS! The disparity was already large and the new tv deal signed right after MD & Rutgers joined made it wider immediately, which was known to be coming. FSU has delusions of grandeur, Semi-assholes just whine and whine. If they were as great as they claim ESPN would have paid up for them, same with Clemson or they would have left in 2012 or 2016, they didn't b/c nobody wanted them. B12 tv deal was levitated by OU & TX for a decade, more than what the other schools were worth, which was a bunch of also rans and recent mid majors.

[@markjackson6431]

FSU, Miami, Notre Dame (the rest of the sports besides hockey, UNC, Duke, Syracuse should join the Big 10 Clemson, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Georgia Tech should join the SEC Pitt, Boston College, NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest should join the Big 12

[@troywest7045]

Uhhmmn, so who's paying for all those teams joining the B1G or are they paying their own way like SMU was going to pay it's own way in the ACC? Fox and CBS are tapped out, so Apple TV? Plus Fox and CBS get first picks each week for Marquee matchups, so I would expect much from the media deal, definitely not enough for full shares and probably not enough for half shares. So where is the money coming from so current B1G teams don't get smaller pieces of pie, than they currently get?

[@zachellenburg5738]

3:27 Cincinnati? They made the playoffs! ESPN you should get your facts straight.

[@TeezyHadaBaby]

If Clemson would have stepped up with FSU they would’ve gotten somewhere a lot sooner. College football pays for everything.

[@justtimes9257]

how is that & signed the contract for that deal; why not make your own confrence great plus you in the acc you still make the playoffs

[@william7286]

Lacking AAU affiliation, Florida State and Clemson should be (can't imagine they'd go down this road to join the Big 12) locks for the SEC. We know that in addition to those two, Miami, UNC, NC State, UVA, and VA Tech want out of the ACC. UNC is the domino: If they opt for the SEC, they bring either UVA or VA Tech. Given the option, UVA will accept an invite from the Big Ten (therefore, VA Tech joins UNC). The Big Ten needs to balance the conference with a 20th member; that move will hinge on Notre Dame. If rebuffed by the Irish, I see the Big Ten adding Miami. Regardless, NC State will settle for the Big 12, bringing Georgia Tech, Louisville, Duke, Stanford, and Cal.

[@kbrewski1]

The Big Ten has absolutely no interest in Miami. Miami plays in front of a mostly empty stadium. The students don't even bother.

[@troywest7045]

So these teams going to the B1G are paying their own way? Cause I don't see anymore money coming in and these schools won't want smaller pieces of pie. Fox said they are tapped out, maybe Apple TV? Regardless the extra games will be what's leftover each week after Fox/CBS take the marquee matchups, so I would expect much money from that, definitely not enough full shares, which I doubt the B1G would offer even if it had the money. Best scenario for teams who want to go to the B1G is that they could sell the media rights for enough to cover partial shares in the B1G till the next media deal in 2030. Truthfully, with ESPN not having to pay the ACC media deal once they implode, they can use that same money to add to the SEC deal and add teams to the SEC, it just makes more sense at the moment. ESPN would still have enough money to toss the big12 a few bucks to pickup some ACC leftovers.

[@william7286]

@@kbrewski1 Like UCLA, Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Maryland ... Big Ten stopped expanding for quality after Nebraska (that didn't work out so well, either). Since then, it's been AAU members in major media markets. Miami/South Florida is more Northeast/SoCal than Southern.

[@stischer47]

No way that the Big 12 WANTS Stanford or Cal. And they have made it very plain they don't want the Big 12.

[@flelite3994]

Who cares college football is a professional league all together

[@AustindGreen]

It's funny how ESPN is making it out to be that Clemson is the hero in all of this. We started it first and we will finish it

[@litedawg]

Like you did in the Orange Bowl?

[@kbrewski1]

Did they use the word "hero" in this report? I didn't hear that. 🙄

[@kbrewski1]

Did they use the word "hero" in this report? I didn't hear that. 🙄🤪

[@AustindGreen]

@@litedawg we will be back with a full team

[@GoatedAtNFS]

@@AustindGreenlost multiple starters to eligibility and portal try again. and they quit in the orange bowl, unlike Georgia, who also got “snubbed”

[@classicmgammer]

This stinks about Clemson’s Decision!!!

[@jewellegardner1827]

Later... SEC, SEC, SEC. Enough said.....

[@Mrcharles.]

NFL minor league seems much better at this point.

[@jewellegardner1827]

@@Mrcharles. Hey... Don't give them any ideas. Though you might be on to something.

[@stischer47]

SMU is screwed, Cal and Stanford will probably go back to the Pac-2, Big 12 will go after Louisville, Pitt, and Duke. Notre Dame will go wherever they want to. The rest? Who knows?

[@jasenick9931]

Yea poaching teams that are already in there region 🤣🤣

[@TheMCJ2011]

Money makes the world go round. Come on over to the SEC Clemson. And bring Miami with you 💯

[@cfbtube]

and Kansas with Leipold

[@AustindGreen]

Surprise! Yo aren't getting rid of us anytime soon and next time we play you guys we will have a full roster

[@TheMCJ2011]

@@AustindGreen Lmao

[@Mrcharles.]

Kick out Vanderbilt and maybe will allow Clemson and Florida State to join.

[@kennedy9773]

@@Mrcharles.no Vandy is to good of a school Academically

[@i.m.2bizee569]

Clemson and FAU to the SEC makes the most sense not just geographically but it will balance the amount of schools with the big ten

[@kbrewski1]

Florida Atlantic U? Are you on drugs?

[@AncientWisdomUnveiledCDW]

College sports end

[@Greydawg]

FSU's suit (& its purpose) is simply *not the same* as Clemson's. FSU wants out of the ACC & will not accept anything less because of an emotional rage response they can't take back. That's fine. It's simply not the same as a Clemson program that *the ACC has worked with as uniquely in all of sports* to do things like shatter the all-time record for seasons without a bye-week opponent (including this year where all teams have *at least* two bye-weeks, which is sincerely impressive) for just one example of the ACC working with Clemson in a way FSU deliberately did the opposite of throughout the entirety of the era. Clemson *may* leave, or they may help change the future of multiple conferences outright (you know, *like they literally did the last time they said they were leaving the ACC* & instead renegotiated & found unprecedented success including multiple national championships & first-round draft picks). 💯

[@dlksjax]

Thank you John Swofford, you protected Raycom and pitched an inferior deal to the League selling short term gain and a preposterous long term deal with no opportunities for renegotiation. On the flip side, the presidents of the member schools signed the crappy deal and many still cling to that deal despite the preponderance of information showing how detrimental it is for future competition. The ACC signed its own epitaph, and like the PAC12 will face the consequences. Kudos to the schools trying to leave, they will have to pay but in the long run will be worth getting off a sinking ship.

[@MarkHicok-vr5lx]

I think Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, and Virginia will go to the SEC to put them at 20 teams. I think the Big 10 will get Notre Dame and Miami to put them at 20 since they got AAU status last year. Everybody else from ACC will go to Big 12 or group of 5.

[@Ramen_Hibachi]

All this just to be a mediocre team in the SEC or BIG 10

[@bryce_atkinson1598]

they’ll get way more money in the sec they won’t win every year but they’ll be very good

[@JBaal147]

$$$$

[@kennedy9773]

@@rubyridge5563Vandy is a lot More important to the sec then Clemson and FSU

[@larrylane7822]

I think they’ll be better than mediocre, You have to remember FSU and Clemson are still great programs, sure they won’t win as much but they’ll still be good teams making the playoffs every so often in the SEC, now in the big ten both of them are probably top 5 programs

[@Mrcharles.]

@@kennedy9773Vanderbilt should be kicked out of the sec so that the conference can make way for a junior professional league.

[@Ramen_Hibachi]

If the ACC dies because of Clemson and Florida State then I’m done with college sports

[@FrederickCasa]

🧢

[@loganc7505]

Died because ACC was fine with being at best third and having a competitive disasvantageb

[@derrickmarsh50]

Bye then

[@james-bf1ni]

😂😂 done huh? Start preparing.

[@tombojohnson2550]

BuhBye

[@kfcinafrica2111]

cLEMSUX should sue themselves

[@brianproffitt7263]

Clemson needs to be in the sec anyways makes 🤷🏻‍♂️