Report: UMD Files $157 Million Counterclaim, Alleging ACC Recruited Big Ten Schools

By Brian Hooks

The University of Maryland has filed a $157 million counter claim against the Atlantic Coast Conference, which the university will leave for the Big Ten Conference in July, reports the Baltimore Sun.

The counterclaim alleges the ACC violated Maryland antitrust laws by attempting to recruit schools from the Big Ten, after the university announced intentions to move to the Big Ten.

Maryland faces a $52 million exit fee for departing the ACC—an amount only Maryland and Florida State voted against, according to the Sun.

The counterclaim says the exit fee "lacks any legitimate economic justification" and was not properly amended to the ACC constitution when it was adopted in 2012. It also claims ESPN has "incentivized" action by the ACC to add members to the conference.