CFB insider makes case for FSU & Clemson to leave ACC with massive Super league move in conference realignment era
College football insider Greg Swaim thinks FSU and Clemson should leave the ACC to form a Super League. Both schools have made it clear they want to leave the ACC and would be highly sought after.
FSU and Clemson are frustrated with the media rights deal, as both schools are suing the conferences in hopes of not paying a fee to leave the conference. According to Swaim, he thinks Florida State and Clemson could be part of a super league in college football.
"A reminder what it would mean for both #FSU and #Clemson if the #SuperLeague buys up @ESPN from @Disney, as they are planning to.Obviously it would release them from their current @ESPN contract, as well as other #ACC schools. UT would also release them from the GOR, as the number ACC schools leaving would negate the conference completely," Swaim reported.
A Super League in college football has been talked about since the 50s, but whether it would happen is uncertain.
However, Swaim thinks that FSU and Clemson could be the first step in creating the league if they get out of the ACC.
FSU and Clemson want to leave the ACC
FSU and Clemson will both remain in the ACC as neither school informed the conference they would be leaving ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline.
However, both schools are suing the conference so they don't have to pay the exit fee. The biggest reason the schools want to leave is money as the ACC pays schools $30 million per year but the SEC and Big Ten are paying schools around $60 million, according to The Athletic.
Although Florida State and Clemson are suing the ACC, commissioner Jim Phillips says he will be defending the conference as much as possible.
“We will fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as it takes,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said at ACC media days in July (per Bleacher Report). “We are confident in this league and that it will remain a premier conference in college athletics for the long-term future.
"These disputes continue to be extremely damaging, disruptive and incredibly harmful to the league, as well as overshadowing our student-athletes and the incredible successes taking place on the field and within the conference.”
Florida State and Clemson will have to remain in the ACC until at least 2025, but should they break free, the SEC and Big Ten would both likely have an interest in the schools.