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The Clemson Tigers are currently engaged in a legal battle with the Atlantic Coast Conference as they try to determine their future. According to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, they have had "early conversations" with the Big 12 Conference about the possibility of joining them in conference realignment.
If that were to happen, it could create the beginning of the end for the ACC. Let's discuss how this could be the final nail in the coffin for one of the power conferences if Clemson joins the Big 12.
How does Clemson leaving for the Big 12 affect the long-term health of the ACC?
The domino effect of the Clemson Tigers leaving the ACC to join the Big 12 will have significant implications for the conference. The Big 12 would like both the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles to join the conference, taking away arguably the two biggest schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With both schools potentially being removed from the ACC, significant cracks in the foundation of the conference will emerge. Other programs like the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels will also begin exploring potential exit strategies.
If the Clemson Tigers figure out a way to escape the Atlantic Coast Conference, it could be a sign of trouble. The ACC needs to keep a minimum of 15 members to not re-open negotiations with ESPN, the media rights holder, as per a clause in the contract.
If the Big 12 can secure the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles, that will open up the floodgates for the SEC and Big Ten to poach other programs. The conference does have some quality schools in multiple sports and allows the Big Ten and Big 12 to get some more market share in the southeastern portion of the United States.
If the Big 12 gets ahold of Clemson, the conference realignment could look similar to what the Pac-12 Conference just went through over the course of the last 24 months.
