In a surprising move, Clemson University has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), making them the second ACC program to take legal action against the conference. The lawsuit was filed in Pickens County, South Carolina, according to court records.

According to the court filing, Clemson is suing the ACC over its grant of rights and the enforceability of withdrawal fees. However, the university clarified in a statement that it has not given notice of its intention to leave the conference and remains a member. The full statement from Clemson can be found [here](https://t.co/67cYc6JElO).

In response to Clemson's lawsuit, the conference issued a statement expressing confidence that its agreements with all its members will be affirmed by the courts. This comes after Florida State's board of trustees unanimously voted to sue the ACC in December 2021 over similar issues, including the grant of rights and a $130 million withdrawal fee.

The move by Florida State to file a lawsuit came after its football team was controversially excluded from the College Football Playoff, despite boasting a flawless 13-0 record in the regular season and a convincing 16-6 win over Louisville in the ACC Championship Game.

Florida State is seeking a declaratory judgement to void the grant of rights and withdrawal fee, with speculation that their ultimate goal is to leave the ACC. In a countersuit filed by the ACC against Florida State's board of trustees in North Carolina, the conference argues that the school cannot challenge the grant of rights it had previously signed and believes the issue should be decided in the state where the ACC is headquartered.

This recent legal action by Clemson adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing disputes within the ACC. As both lawsuits progress, it remains to be seen how this will affect the relationship between the conference and its member programs.