The ACC, ESPN, and a Unilateral Option

Florida State University (FSU) filed a complaint for declaratory judgement in Leon County, Florida on December 22nd, 2023. FSU alleges in Count III “The ACC materially breached its contracts with Florida State (...) - Granting and then grossly mishandling the Unilateral ESPN Nine-Year Option with respect to FLORIDA STATE's Tier I media rights; - Amending the 2016 ACC Tier I Agreement without securing the approval of two-thirds of its Directors required under ACC Bylaw 2.10.3; - Extending for no consideration the Unilateral ESPN Nine-Year Option under the 2016 ACC Tier I Agreement in August of 2021.” This case examines the value of ESPN's unilateral option to continue its media rights agreement with the ACC and the value the ACC gave ESPN by extending the option in August of 2021.