5118725, 10:10AM ACG realgnment rumblings: 7 schools are examining the grant of rights. But can they leave? - The Alec ACC realignment rumblings: 7 schools are examining the grant of rights. But can they leave? By Mae Awtach May 6 228 ‘The ACC's annual spring meetings are underway in Amelia Island, Fla, and are expected to end by midday Wednesday It's the Gist time the league's top administrators will gather in person since Flora State athletic director Michael Alford publicly lambasted the ACC's curent equal revenue s $30 million behind its pers in the SEC and shaving mode and sti “something bas to change," because FSU could not compete nationally i Big Ten on an anmal bass ‘Those comments, made in font of his board of trustees back in February, made waves nationally and were followed up by similar calls for consideration of uneven revenue sharing from his counterparts at Clemson, Miami and North Carolina (Could the ACC ever adopt an unequal revenue suring mode? ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has acknowledged the leagues position relative to the SEC and the Big'Ten and has hired outside help to find new revenue streams fora conference locked in to its media rights deal through 2036, What it would cos to try to get out of the ACC before that time is the ACC's grant unclear; the ext fee alone is $120 million and there i also the issue of breaki sight, which has not been challenged to date and is presumed to be airtight by most Lawyers fora subset of schools have been thorough schools ae ‘examining the document. One industry source ssid he was told that seve interested in exploring ways to leave the ACC. “If t were simple, everybody would have done it aleady."an ACC source pointed out "The GOR piece is important because the ACC would continue to own the broadcast rights of allots teams’ home games, even i chat team were to ay the exit fee and leave. Is there a dollae figure that a schoo! could pay to get its rights back? Even if is exorbitant could be worth paying to get 1 that will bring in $30 million more per member annually. tps steathloe-con4524787/202805)15lace-ealgnmentgant-t-ights! 48518723, 10:10AM ACG realignment rumblings: 7 schools are examining the grat of rights. But can they leave? - The Alec ‘The ACC source said his expectation fo this week’s meetings was to “advance the ball on revenue distribution changes,” though he acknowledged i ‘woulda close the gap for schools like Clemson and Florida State compared to schools in the Big'Ten and SEC. It’ about incremental change and ‘moving towad a system that rewards on-field (or on-court) success he said Some ofthe schools’ presidents are expected to be in Florida in person for their portion ofthe meetings others will vdeo conference in. “Tension among ACC schools has been a hot topic both inside and out of the league this offeason, The question has come up in nearly every conversation with any administrator in any lenge for weeks: When is one ar more ACC schools going to challenge the ACC’ grant of rights? Could ibe thie summer? Next year? Or much closer to the end ofthe contract that runs through 2036? Everyone knows there aze disgruntled members led bby Florida State and Clemson, but its not quite clear what would be required legally and financially, to attempt to ext the ACC prior ro 2036 gE Saples How woud school challenge gran fright? Weasked a ayer “There a big difference berween saying you want todo something ike that and actully executing i ‘one league source sui ‘What was perhaps most interesting was the amount of attention paid to the ACC at another st of spring meetings — those that took place earlier this month in Scottsdale, Avz.‘The Big 12 and Pac-12 formally met there, as they always do, anda good amount of Big Ten football coaches and athlevi directors came out fora few days forthe Fiesta Bowl-sponsored events (and vacation). There were agents, search firm representatives and ‘other industry leaders networking there as wll as reporters ‘There was much speculation about the future of the ACC and what it could mean forthe rest of major college alercs. Most of the administrators sho spoke to The Athlticin Scottdale were much more interested in the possibilty of ACC floodgates being open — and wht that could mean for the Big Ten and SEC, which will both be at 16 members as of 2024 — than they were about discussing the current standaif between the Pac-12 and the Big 12 over schools such as Colorado and Arizona, If Florida State, Clemson, Virginia, North Carolina and Miami were to become available, that’ a real end major domino to fallin conference realignment. As one Big Ten source put it,“Those schools are where the real valu is.” ‘That person was particularly interested in Virginia and North Carolina as new states and/or markets for the Big Ten to extend down the Fast Coast. ‘This Big’Ten cource believes expansion out Bast makes far more sense than expanding into the Pacific Northwest, which has not had nearly enough, Netra tps steathlove-con4524787/202805) 15lace-ealgnment-gant-t-ights! 28