Jim Phillips on Florida State, Clemson lawsuits vs. ACC: 'It's time to play football'

At long last, ACC football returns Saturday. Florida State and Georgia Tech kick things off from Dublin, Ireland to highlight the Week 0 slate and usher in the 2024 season.

But away from the field, FSU and Clemson find themselves in the middle of legal battles with the ACC. Both schools are challenging the conference’s grant of rights, perhaps the first step toward leaving the league at some point. Florida State and the ACC ended their mediation earlier this week, as On3’s Pete Nakos reported, and will continue settlement talks.

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Commissioner Jim Phillips again addressed the situations Saturday morning on College GameDay. He reiterated the ACC will continue to fight – something he said on SportsCenter earlier this week – but he also wants to keep focus on the field.

“It’s time to play football,” Phillips told Pete Thamel. “I’ve been very direct about my thoughts about, we are going to fight these legal cases. But we are going to put those to the side. What’s nice about what’s coming up is we’re going to put the focus back where it should be – on student-athletes and our coaches.”

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Where things stand with Florida State, Clemson lawsuits

Florida State’s lawsuit centers around the ACC’s grant of rights, which is an agreement that gives conferences the right to broadcast all member schools’ home games for the duration of the media rights deal. The ACC’s grant of rights runs through 2026.

However, documents released by Florida’s attorney general showed ESPN has an option in 2027. FSU contends an amendment signed by commissioner Jim Phillips changed that date to February 2025.

Clemson, meanwhile, is seeking to clarify if the university controls its broadcast rights if it leaves the conference. Athletics director Graham Neff also discussed the school’s relationship with Jim Phillips and the ACC earlier this week and said he feels plenty of support from those around the league.

“I’ve been real consistent with our staff and our coaches and our student-athletes about the expectations for us to be great members of the conference we’re in,” Neff said. “I know that’s been a message point of mine that I have been and will remain consistent on. That means big picture of how we’re positioning and strategizing for Clemson in a fluid, dynamic environment, but also day to day. How we compete and how we are professional in the settings and circles that we’re all in variously.

“The consistency – I guess I’m reciprocating maybe some of Commissioner Phillips’ comments on the professional nature of it. But also for us to continue to do what’s best for Clemson, which is shown by our strategy to be able to navigate in the changing landscape.”