A story of a haunting ghost of the past? Mike Norvell and Florida State weren’t always a lackluster 2-10 program. And the 2023 season proved that they had the power to go undefeated. But is the ACC their roadblock to elite level success? For years, the Seminoles watched programs in the SEC and Big Ten cash in while they remained stuck in a media deal that pays them far less. And then, December of 2023 set their frustration to a boiling point. Now they want out.

If we’re tracing this saga back to its roots, ESPN’s Pete Thamel points to one defining moment. In a new YouTube episode ESPN College Football on March 6, he stated, “I think that this all kind of started with Florida State’s ready, fire, aim overreaction to not making the playoff. If you really remember the timeline of all this happened, it was almost like a diversion to that heartbreak.” Who can forget that gut-wrenching exclusion of FSU from the 2023 college football playoff?

A perfect 13-0 season, an ACC title, and yet no ticket to the playoffs. It served as a wake-up call for FSU who realized that staying in the ACC wasn’t just a financial burden. It was also a competitive disadvantage and instead of just venting, the Seminoles took action. What followed was an all-out legal battle where they sued the conference and sought to break free from the league’s Grant of Rights agreement that locked them in a TV deal through 2036. 

FSU wasn’t alone. Clemson, another ACC powerhouse, also pushed back with the same fears of getting left behind in the elite competition conversation. And their concerns weren’t baseless. The conference, despite its tradition and basketball dominance, was falling further behind the B1G and SEC in football revenue and advantage. That reality became painfully clear when a one-loss Alabama was placed as a playoff contender ahead of the undefeated Seminoles. As their AD Michael Alford pointed out, “It spoke volumes of the perception — I believe — of this league when it comes to football specifically.” Now, after months of courtroom drama, FSU might finally have the escape route they’ve been looking for.  

A $500 million breakout exit for Mike Norvell’s FSU

FSU’s legal battle against the ACC centered on the league’s GoR which binds all its programs to its media deal with ESPN through 2036. The deal guarantees each school about $25 million annually, which isn’t as lucrative as the SEC or B1G. If Mike Norvell and his team stays till 2036, they’re projected to have a financial shortfall with less than $600 million combined. With NIL shaping recruitment and revenue-sharing looming, the Seminoles couldn’t afford to be left behind and they’re partially getting what they want. 

FSU is handed a discount of over $500 million in ACC’s effort to stabilize itself. As part of the settlement, the exit fee has been slashed from about $700 million to $165 million for its conference members. And it doesn’t stop there. As Pete Thamel reported, this new figure “descends bg $18 million per year until its $75 million in 2030-31 and levels off. The member would leave with their media rights after paying the fee.” 

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For now, it’s unclear which path FSU is headed — SEC or Big Ten? But one thing’s clear, Mike Norvell and the Seminoles’ days in the ACC are numbered.