Florida State suing the ACC, setting the stage for a fight to leave conference

FILE – Florida State players pose after defeating Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Florida State announced it will hold a Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, Dec. 22, and a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the future of the athletic department and its affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference will be discussed.(AP Photo/Erik Verduzco, File)

Florida State has sued the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging a contract that binds the school to the league for the next 12 years.

Florida State outside counsel David Ashburn says the lawsuit claims the ACC’s grant of rights violates antitrust law and has unenforceable withdrawal penalties. It also accuses the ACC of breach of contract and violation of public policy.

He says it would cost more than $570 million for Florida State to leave.

The ACC says FSU agreed to a renewal of their agreement in 2016 knowing all the details.

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