Maryland Terrapins file lawsuit against ACC

Jan 6, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jake Layman (10) drives to the basket against Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 79-59. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Maryland Terrapins are leaving the ACC for the Big Ten because conference realignment demands programs to move or something — likely something, but whatevs. With movement between leagues, though, comes exit fees and hard feelings over money.

With that being said, Maryland (the state, not the school) is a little bit angry over the fact that they feel the ACC broke its own rules by inflating the exit fee to get out of the league. So, naturally, the university has filed a $156.8 million counter-claim lawsuit against the ACC claiming  “illegal, retaliatory, and anti-competitive conduct (that) threatens irreparable harm to Maryland and Maryland’s student-athletes, student and alumni fan base, faculty, athletic competitiveness and reputation.”

The ACC is also not happy with how things are going. They want their compensation and they want it now. The conference has its own lawsuit. Theirs is against Maryland for the sum of $52.2 million or what is simply called, the exit fee.

Really, what this all comes down to is jurisdiction, what judge is ruling what and which side ends up coming out on top. I’m not a lawyer — nor have I ever played one on TV (yet) — so speaking on this matter would be straight shenanigans coming out of my mouth.

If Maryland were to win, however, the repercussions would likely be felt throughout all of college sports and conference realignment going forward. Hopefully, for the sake of knowing which school is where, all the movement is nearing a stop.

As for Maryland they leave the ACC at the end of the year and join the Big Ten immediately after.

They are figuratively trying to make #goacc a literal statement more than a fun hashtag on Twitter.