The idea of Miami eventually leaving the ACC is no longer the nearly impossible proposition it appeared to be only a few years ago.
The settlement reached between the ACC, Florida State and Clemson in 2025 substantially changed the math for any member considering an exit. Under the agreement, a school leaving during the 2026-27 academic year would owe a $147 million withdrawal fee, with that number continuing to decrease until it reaches $75 million in 2030-31, according to ESPN.
Just as importantly, a departing school that pays the required fee would retain its future media rights.
That last part is enormous.
The ACC’s Grant of Rights was previously viewed as the biggest obstacle separating schools such as Miami, Clemson and Florida State from the SEC or Big Ten. A school could theoretically leave the conference, but the ACC maintaining control of its television rights through 2036 made a move financially unrealistic.
That is no longer the same barrier.
The settlement also includes an “option of limited withdrawal” that could allow six or more ACC schools to leave the conference in a specific sport to participate together in another single-sport league or association, according to 247Sports.
That provision could become particularly significant if college football eventually moves toward some form of super league.
There is, however, a new complication.
The proposed Protect College Sports Act includes provisions that would cap power-conference membership at 19 schools and require a program moving from one power conference to another to spend five years as an independent first.
The legislation has not become law and could still change significantly, but the current language would make a traditional ACC-to-SEC or ACC-to-Big Ten move much more difficult.
That means Miami’s situation is complicated.
The Hurricanes are currently the preseason favorite to win the ACC and are coming off a run to the national championship game.
There is no indication Miami is preparing to announce an exit. But if the financial gap between the ACC and the Big Ten or SEC continues growing, Miami is exactly the type of national brand that would have to evaluate its options.
For the first time, there is a defined financial path for doing it.
Whether that path remains open may now depend as much on Washington as it does on the ACC.
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