ACC’s legal settlement with FSU, Clemson reveals ‘super league’ escape clause
That hypothetical — however realistic or unrealistic it may be — is addressed in the settlement agreement that ended the conference’s duelin
www.nytimes.com
From the article:
What happens if enough ACC football programs want to join a super league?
Under the settlement, the cost to leave in the 2025-26 fiscal year is $165 million and drops by $18 million annually. The figure stays at $75 million from 2030-31 through 2036 (the final year of the contract).
Crucially, departing schools keep their future TV rights. If those rights had remained with the ACC, Clemson or Florida State would have added significantly less value to a new conference, such as the SEC or Big Ten.
The notable change is with revenue from the league’s multimedia contracts. The first 40 percent of that money from sources will be split evenly among the schools. Of the remaining 60 percent, three-quarters will be distributed based on football TV viewership, and one-quarter will be based on men’s basketball viewership. Other details were redacted and claimed as trade secrets.
What about a super league?
Officially called an “option of limited withdrawal,” it’s the juiciest part of the agreement and new information, regardless of whether it’s feasible.Suppose at least six members want to leave the same sport to join a “single sport league, conference or other association” alongside other schools. In that case, they’ll owe $75 million or 50 percent of the current withdrawal figure (whichever is greater). In practice, that would allow, say, Florida State, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina and a few other top programs to leave for a super league in football while remaining ACC members in basketball, baseball and every other sport.
