Jim Phillips responds to Florida State, Clemson lawsuits: 'We will fight to protect the ACC'

Florida State and Clemson have been the center of the latest conversation regarding possible conference realignment out of the ACC. However, Commissioner Jim Phillips has now made his stance on that matter clear.

Phillips addressed those issues while at the podium at ACC Media Days on Monday. Frankly, he says the Seminoles and Tigers, like every other team in their league, is signed to the agreement. From there, his only focus is on the overall success of the ACC.

“The fact is that every member of this conference willingly signed the Grant of Rights,” Phillips said. “The ACC, and our collective membership, deserves better.”

“We will fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as it takes,” said Phillips. “We are confident in this league and that it will remain a premier league in college athletics for the long future.”

The issue now is how to continue handling these issues while also not letting it take away from their sports.

“We’ve had six months of disruption and I think we’ve handled it incredibly well,” Phillips said. “I think it’s important for me to lead our group in particular, not only our staff but our schools, to compartmentalize the legal piece of what’s happening and not let it distract us or take us away from what we’re all trying to do, which is provide great experiences for our student-athletes, teams, and coaches. Put the focus back on the field and the areas of competition.”

“We have proven that you have to move forward, even with these types of distractions and really important issues that are part of your daily lives,” said Phillips.

There are currently four ongoing lawsuits involving the ACC, Florida State, and Clemson. The litigation involves the conference’s grant of rights that they all agreed upon back in 2013 and will be in effect through 2036. It does involve an option, which must require decision by next year, for 2027 that would extend it to ’36.

Under that deal, ACC schools are earning nearly $40 million per year. They’re also receiving an additional $13 million for the latest agreement regarding the College Football Playoff.

Still, it seems that, among other concerns, isn’t enough for brands like Florida State and Clemson. That could lead to their eventual departure, even though it looks as though the notification of that isn’t coming yet for the season to follow this one.

Phillips maintains that his conference won’t be the next one to suffer from realignment. That’s why he hasn’t budged a bit on this in regards to the future of the ACC.

“Forceful moments deserve forceful support and leadership. I don’t know that I’ve changed at all other than I stand by everything I’ve said from the moment of the first interview I did around the Orange Bowl on ACCN to today,” Phillips said. “This is a really important time for the conference and either you believe in what’s been signed or you don’t. We are going to do everything we can to protect and to fight for the league.”

“This has been a league that started way before me 71 years ago and will be a league that will be around a long time after I depart. This league deserves us to take on this really serious issue and to handle it appropriately,” said Phillips. “This conference is bigger than any one school or schools.”