What was once considered the Power 5 in college football is quickly becoming the Power 2.
Through performance and aggression in realignment, the SEC and Big Ten have shaped themselves are clearly the strongest, healthiest and most powerful conferences in all of college football.
Two blue-blood programs have been watching all of this unfold and are getting antsy.
Florida State and Clemson have both grown worried and frustrated that their conference, the ACC, has and will continue to hold them back.
The two schools feel they are not getting the compensation they deserve – especially when they see the amount of money the other conferences are sharing with their schools thanks largely in part to massive television deals.
Florida State and Clemson want the ACC to up their compensation – or they want out.
Florida State athletic director Michael Alford was the first to speak out…
“At the end of the day for Florida State to compete nationally, something has to change moving forward,” Alford said.
Clemson then followed suit…
“In all candor, I put it as a need,” Clemson athletic director Graham Neff said. “We certainly recognize the investment that we’ve continued to make as an institution, in our community, in athletics, namely in football, which certainly drives a lot of value that is important from a television and revenue-generation standpoint. Is it time revenue distribution within conferences, or at least the ACC, is done differently? Yeah, I’ve been very active in those conversations within the league and continue to expect to take a leadership role in our desire for that to be a changed circumstance. Urgently.”
The main problem is the fact that the ACC’s television deal with Disney runs through 2036, so they are locked in – whereas the SEC and Big Ten just negotiated new deals that will pay their members in the neighborhood of $75 million each annually.
That’s a figure the ACC doesn’t come close to under the current contract, and Alford knows that creates quite the hurdle for Florida State (and Clemson)…
“At the end of the day, if something’s not done, we cannot be $30 million behind every year compared to our peers,” Alford said.
Florida State and/or Clemson may look to join another conference, but that will surely come with a hefty exit fee – predicted to be approximately $120 million, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The college football world reacted to the situation on social media…
FSU and Clemson are demanding a bare minimum of $20m per year from the ACC total payouts (tv, ncaa, accn, CFP) or they are going to jointly start seeking a way to exit the conference and break the GOR. They are both confident it can be broken for much less than what is written
— MHver3 (@MHver3) February 27, 2023
“One thing to remember about the FSU/Clemson saber rattling. It’s one thing to get out of ACC deal. It’s another to assume Fox/ESPN are going to rip up current deals to pay them MORE in another conference. Those networks love cost certainty.”
One thing to remember about the FSU/Clemson saber rattling. It’s one thing to get out of ACC deal. It’s another to assume Fox/ESPN are going to rip up current deals to pay them MORE in another conference. Those networks love cost certainty.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) February 26, 2023
“Much Sound and Fury Signifying absolutely nothing. Since @theACC controls Florida State’s media rights for the next 13 yrs, they’re not going anywhere. Look how hard it was for Texas & OU to leave Big 12 with 4 years of rights remaining when they announced their @SEC move.”
Much Sound and Fury Signifying absolutely nothing. Since @theACC controls Florida State's media rights for the next 13 yrs, they're not going anywhere. Look how hard it was for Texas & OU to leave Big 12 with 4 years of rights remaining when they announced their @SEC move https://t.co/eYKXqePgwY
— Chuck Cooperstein (@coopmavs) February 25, 2023
“I don’t think the ACC can give them a bigger piece of the pie, but I do think the ACC can renegotiate with ESPN. No, ESPN won’t like that, but they also won’t like the current contract losing massive value to them if Clemson and FSU leave the ACC. Seems like the logical solution.”
I don’t think the ACC can give them a bigger piece of the pie, but I do think the ACC can renegotiate with ESPN. No, ESPN won’t like that, but they also won’t like the current contract losing massive value to them if Clemson and FSU leave the ACC. Seems like the logical solution. https://t.co/tLnXesDCUt
— Lee Fouler NC State Fan Account (@LeeFouler) February 27, 2023
“If I could have multiple pinned tweets, I’d pin this too. Since everything FSU and Clemson are ESPN + ACC tied, IMO, if either of those got out of the ACC before 2036, they will end up in the SEC. I’m perfectly fine with that too.”
If I could have multiple pinned tweets, I'd pin this too. Since everything FSU and Clemson are ESPN + ACC tied, IMO, if either of those got out of the ACC before 2036, they will end up in the SEC. I'm perfectly fine with that too.
— Big Ten football 3-6-6. Announcement by summer (@Genetics56) February 26, 2023
“ACC without Clemson and FSU is the big east lmaooo lame asses.”
ACC without Clemson and FSU is the big east lmaooo lame asses
— ➶ ᴛɪɴᴀ ѕησω ➴ (@crystnadior) February 24, 2023
“If I was the ACC and FSU and Clemson were to leave (don’t think it happens for a while) my top 5 to replace them would be 1. West Virginia 2. USF 3. UConn 4. Memphis 5. Temple Notre Dame would obviously be 1 but I think they go to the B1G if they ever stop being an independent.”
If I was the ACC and FSU and Clemson were to leave (don’t think it happens for a while) my top 5 to replace them would be
1. West Virginia
2. USF
3. UConn
4. Memphis
5. TempleNotre Dame would obviously be 1 but I think they go to the B1G if they ever stop being an independent
— The Herd🤘 (@TheHerdUSF) February 27, 2023
“So the #Pac12‘s “Four Corners” schools now have a sense of urgency, if they’re going to leave the #Pac12, because the #ACC may fall apart even sooner than anticipated if #Clemson and #FSU leave due to revenue disparity.”
So the #Pac12's "Four Corners" schools now have a sense of urgency, if they're going to leave the #Pac12, because the #ACC may fall apart even sooner than anticipated if #Clemson and #FSU leave due to revenue disparity.
— GREG SWAIM (@GSwaim) February 27, 2023
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports posted a detailed breakdown of the different television deals…
If you want to see where every conference stands revenue wise, this was shown to the FSU board of trustees yesterday. pic.twitter.com/VbkxFXoFlv
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) February 25, 2023
“Coach Cristobal when FSU, Clemson, and UNC are out of the league and they finally have a shot at winning the ACC.”
Coach Cristobal when FSU, Clemson, and UNC are out of the league and they finally have a shot at winning the ACC. pic.twitter.com/FwoAB525aY
— The Artist FKA Russell (@Russell_Krowes) February 25, 2023
Clemson and FSU carrying the ACC https://t.co/NGmRmwUVjA pic.twitter.com/zTuKu5p07A
— Dustin (@defenestrator19) February 27, 2023
The best win % in ACC football history:
1. FSU – 66.6%
2. Miami – 62.6%
3. Clemson – 62.3%
4. VT – 60.2%
5. GT – 58.1% pic.twitter.com/nKgY8f3tfT— Saturday Road (@SaturdayRoad) February 22, 2023