04-03-2025
Clemson Univ. Board of Trustees approves settlement with ACC
(WSPA) – Clemson University's Board of Trustees approved a settlement Tuesday that would bring to an end lawsuits involving the school and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In a special called meeting Tuesday afternoon, the board voted unanimously to allow university president Jim Clements to enter into the settlement.
School officials said the settlement provides additional revenue from the league's media rights deal with ESPN.
Clemson said that 60% of the base money from the ESPN deal would go into a viewership pool.
Money from the viewership pool would be distributed proportionally to schools based on five-year weighted, rolling viewership figures from football and men's basketball.
The university said the viewership pool money, along with enhanced 'ACC Success Initiatives' have the opportunity to provide more than $120 million in new revenue for Clemson over the next six years.
The settlement also provides a new exit fee schedule and makes it clear that a withdrawing member school would leave with their future media rights.
According to Clemson, the current exit fee is around $165 million and would escalate over time.
The new exit fee begins at $165 million for fiscal year 2026 but then decreases by $18 million per year until 2030-2031 where it will level off at $75 million.
The two sides have been embroiled in lawsuits since March 2024.
Under the current deal, the ACC would retain media rights to Clemson University sporting events through 2036, even if they were to leave the conference.
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