Is Clemson Florida State Leaving ACC? Check Here For The Latest Updates

Is Clemson Florida State Leaving ACC?

As of now, Florida State and Clemson are not expected to leave the ACC anytime soon (Source: bleacherreport). Both schools have until August 15 to announce if they plan to exit by the 2025-26 academic year, but ongoing legal disputes over the ACC’s grant of rights and withdrawal fees make an immediate departure unlikely.

Despite their frustrations with the ACC’s media rights contract, which runs until 2036, they will continue to compete in the conference. This situation may limit their revenue but could also improve their chances in the expanded College Football Playoff, as they might face less competition compared to teams in the SEC and Big Ten.

Clemson ACC Lawsuit

Clemson is currently involved in a legal battle with the ACC over issues related to withdrawal penalties and the grant of rights (Source: espn). The ACC has countersued Clemson, leading to a complex legal situation. Commissioner Jim Phillips has committed to defending the conference vigorously, emphasizing that protecting the ACC is more important than any single school.

He criticized Clemson for not honouring past agreements and defended former commissioner John Swofford, who is also named in the lawsuit. Phillips vowed to continue fighting these legal disputes as the conference prepares for the upcoming football season.

Clemson Florida State

The Clemson–Florida State football rivalry is a long-standing college football matchup between Clemson University and Florida State University. The teams have faced each other every year since 1992. Both are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and were in the ACC's Atlantic Division from 2005 to 2022.

The rivalry was known as the Bowden Bowl in the late 1990s and early 2000s, honouring coaches Bobby Bowden of Florida State and his son Tommy Bowden of Clemson. Recently, the game has gained national importance, with Clemson winning 13 of the last 20 matchups. CBS Sports even named it the top annual college football game in 2016.

ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a major U.S. collegiate athletic conference based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has sixteen member universities competing in NCAA Division I, with football teams in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The ACC sponsors twenty-seven sports and is known for its strong teams and athletes.

Founded on May 8, 1953, with seven schools, it has grown to sixteen members, including Boston College, Clemson, and Florida State. The conference is part of the "Power Five" and has ties to major bowl games. Recently, the ACC voted to add University of California, Berkeley, Southern Methodist University, and Stanford University starting in 2024.