The University of Maryland (“Maryland”) has filed a $157 million countersuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference (“ACC”) in a North Carolina state court. In the lawsuit, for the first time, Maryland is claiming that the ACC attempted to recruit two Big Ten institutions to leave the Big Ten after learning of Maryland’s plans to depart from the ACC. Maryland claims the ACC’s $52.3 million buyout is a penalty to “deny Maryland athletic, academic and financial benefits…expected to [be] derived from joining the Big Ten….” In turn, Maryland claims the exit fee and provision is anticompetitive and, thus, seeks trebled damages under antitrust laws. Maryland seeks damages for more than $16 million that has been withheld by the ACC, $157 million (three times the $52.3 million buyout fee), and punitive damages.

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.com.