SEC distributing over 1 billion to member schools a reminder why FSU sued the ACC

Florida State and its leadership have been in the doghouse with fans and the media over the past few years. Florida State football’s 7-17 record is a big reason for the negativity. However, the administration took a beating for suing the ACC in December 2023.

Florida and Clemson (after they rode FSU’s coattails) eventually settled with the ACC. It was a win anyway the ACC wants to spin it.  FSU became eligible to make more money from the conference and found the exact amounts it would cost to leave the ACC whenever it got ready to do so.

Some folks still criticize Florida State for its move because they don’t understand how business works. However, the SEC awarded a record 1.06 billion to its members for the 2024-25 years is a key reminder why Florida State sued the ACC. That equates to $72.4 million per full member.

Florida State received about 45 million for the 2023-24 year from the ACC. Do you notice the nearly 30 million dollar gap that will continue to grow? If FSU maximized every incentive possible this past season, it would still be a sizable gap.

The ACC could have a resurgence if FSU, Clemson, and Virginia Tech get their act together, along with if Miami, can finally achieve some sustained success. However, they’d need to play at a high level for several years before ESPN would dare look to pay them anything close to what they pay the SEC.

The ACC will always be little brother to the SEC in the eyes of ESPN executives. It’s why FSU either wants to jump ship to the SEC or to the competitor, the B1G. However, FSU must get itself together on the field if they want to remain one of the top brands nationally and have a shot at closing the gap with the schools in those two conferences.

Folks were wrong to criticize FSU for suing the ACC, and every year proves their point more and more.