Graham Neff details how Clemson is 'very active' with conference realignment conversations

Clemson Athletics Director Graham Neff met with the media on Tuesday and discussed a variety of topics. One subject in particular he spent a lot of time addressing was conference realignment and Clemson’s future in the ACC.

Clemson is, of course, still a member of the ACC for now. But Neff admitted that there have been plenty of conversations about conference affiliation.

“We talk with everybody internally and externally… just to be well positioned and well read,” Graham Neff said. “There’s just so many moving aspects of collegiate athletics. That active dialogue, internally and externally, remains to be very present. And I think Clemson, not unlike many others, is very connected and very active in those conversations and would expect to be so.

So we’ll have very candid conversations internally and externally within the landscape and expect that to continue going forward. There’s no mile marker or anticipatory ‘here’s finality.’ It’s just a changing, dynamic landscape.”

Clemson is in an unusual spot in that it is a member of the ACC but also appears to be exploring its options.

There is a large gap between what SEC and Big Ten schools receive from their conference, in comparison to what ACC schools get. That gap is set to get even bigger soon. Because of that, Clemson and others have to consider a move elsewhere.

“We’re going to continue to do what’s best for Clemson. And to be incredibly well-read on all things landscape, network, contacts at all levels,” Neff said. “We have consultants and support that we look to do that, and it’s my job to continue to position us and to be connected and to be nimble and strategic as it relates to the changing landscape.”

With that said, Clemson is also committed to doing the best it can for the ACC right now and wants to represent the conference in a positive manner.

“We are great members of the ACC and we’re going to continue to be great members of the conference that we’re in. That’s really important. That means day-to-day, in meetings and in strategy and football scheduling, all of those things. How we talk about that publicly, like I’m doing here and otherwise,” Neff said. “We have a lot of staff and coaches and public meetings that are really important, that we’re aligned and being great members of the conference we’re in. That’s our obligation as Clemson. We have a duty to help raise the value of our conference and the ACC, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do while looking out and doing what’s best for Clemson.”