Clemson AD Makes Concerning Comments About Revenue Split, Might Be Hinting At Inevitable ACC Departure

Clemson AD Graham Neff’s view of revenue sharing in the ACC should terrify the rest of the conference.

The Tigers have been the most dominant program in the ACC for several years at this point, and it’s unlikely that changes in the near future.

One of the main issues facing the ACC is the conference’s TV contract with ESPN runs through 2036. So, while the Big Ten and SEC are printing cash, the ACC is more than a decade away from getting a huge pay bump. In the meantime, Neff thinks it’s time to let the big dogs eat more than the rest of the conference.

Clemson AD endorses uneven revenue split.

“In all candor, I put it as a need. We certainly recognize the investment that we’ve continued to make as an institution, in our community, in athletics, namely in football, which certainly drives a lot of value that is important from a television and revenue-generation standpoint. Is it time revenue distribution within conferences, or at least the ACC, is done differently? Yeah, I’ve been very active in those conversations within the league and continue to expect to take a leadership role in our desire for that to be a changed circumstance. Urgently,” Neff told The Post and Courier when asked about his outlook on a potential uneven revenue distribution.

It’s worth noting Florida State, the ACC’s other major football brand, appears to endorse the plan. FSU AD Michael Alford said “something has to change moving forward” during a recent board of trustees meeting, according to the same report.

It’s not good for the rest of the conference when the top two programs are openly demanding change.

Will Clemson leave the ACC?

Unfortunately for Clemson, the Tigers don’t really have many options for recourse. It will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars at a minimum to leave the ACC for the SEC – the likely landing spot.

With ESPN controlling the ACC’s media rights for 13 more years, it’s hard to imagine Clemson can do anything other than complain.

Why would any ACC team agree to losing money in order to line the pockets of Clemson and Florida State? The answer is they wouldn’t. It’d be going against their own self-interest. No program is that stupid.

The only card Clemson might have here is to argue they’d sign a longer GoR in order for a guaranteed higher percentage of the revenue. That seems like a hail Mary plan that isn’t realistic at all.

The reality is Clemson can complain all the Tigers want, but the ACC has literally zero incentive to listen. None at all.