ACC Hopes Media Rights Grant Halts Realignment

Clemson and its fellow ACC members are rejoicing in potentially ending conference realignment for the foreseeable future. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

ACC presidents approved a grant of media rights to the conference through the 2026-27, the ACC announced Monday.

What that means is, per ESPN’s story, the ACC will own rights to media rights, including revenue, for all home games. The ACC became the fourth conference to pass such a commitment, following the Pac-12, Big 12 and Big Ten.

Intelligent writers who cover college football for a living consider the move to possibly signal the end of conference realignment.

While their optimism is understood and appreciated, it seems premature.

Why? Well this isn’t the first time conferences have tried to put preventative measures in place to keep teams from leaving.

Remember: Exit fees were supposed to accomplish the same thing. Since exit fees became popular, Missouri and Texas A&M have gone from the Big 12 to the SEC; Nebraska has gone from the Big 12 to the Big Ten; Colorado has gone from the Big 12 to the Pac-12; Maryland has gone from the ACC to the Big Ten; Rutgers has gone from the Big East to the Big Ten; Boise State has gone from the WAC to the Mountain West, agreed to go to the Big East, then chose to return back to the Mountain West; San Diego State followed Boise State’s course – agreeing to go from the Mountain West to the Big East before changing its mind; TCU has agreed to go from the Mountain West to the Big East but spurned the league for the Big 12 instead; West Virginia has gone from the Big East to the Big 12; Pittsburgh and Syracuse have gone from the Big East to the ACC; East Carolina, Houston, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa and UCF all left their respective conferences for the Big East; and Louisville has gone from the Big East to the ACC.

So… How did all that work out?

Truth is: If big conferences want to get bigger, history indicates teams will listen and figure out the financial details later. If the phone rings, athletics directors are still likely to explore whether or not the grass might be greener.