ACC conference realignment: Clemson likely makes major decision hours before Media Days 2024

The Clemson Tigers are one of the bigger dominoes in the Atlantic Coast Conference realignment. They hold power and authority over how the conference is perceived. With the ACC in a legal battle with the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles, the conference realignment has been one of the talking points.

With the 2024 ACC media days ongoing, there have been discussions surrounding the Aug. 15 deadline. Schools in the ACC have to confirm if they plan to enter ACC conference realignment before that date. ESPN's College Football Senior Writer Pete Thamel reports the Clemson Tigers are not expected to give the ACC their notice for leaving the conference in 2025-26.

Although this is a major decision to make, it was expected. Doing this will put the Tigers on the hook for the $572 million worth of fees via the grant of rights.

Will the Clemson Tigers be part of ACC realignment?

ACC realignment will be very interesting as the conference is in legal battles with the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles. The two are trying to cancel the grant of rights and not pay extraordinary exit fees. However, it seems more likely they will leave the conference and join the ACC realignment with each passing verdict from the court system.

While their next home needs to be figured out, it will likely be the Big Ten or Big 12. The Southeastern Conference has already bowed out of the ACC realignment talks at his point. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey discussed prioritizing their 16 members and wanting to "grow the pie" rather than slicing it into more pieces.

The Clemson Tigers are not financially happy with the ACC media rights deal. They are substantially lower than what the other three power conferences are. However, they will not risk paying more than half a billion dollars upon leaving the conference.

​