CLEMSON — The main objective in any sport is to win.

That is the goal.

Yes, there are other things that can be accomplished, but in the end, it is about who wins and who loses.

After reading several posts and articles on Thursday, including the State’s Chapel Fowler’s, in reference to Clemson’s settlement agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference, it is obvious who came out the winner.

Clemson did.

It’s not a total surprise Clemson won. In fact, we felt they did back when news of the settlement came out on March 4. Now, of course, it is public record they did.

In case you missed Mr. Fowler’s piece on the 68-page document, let me summarize it the best way that I can.

Clemson got everything it wanted. It got a new brand initiative policy, an affordable exit fee and full access to its media rights.

Clemson Athletics was never expecting to win in the courtroom. When it filed its lawsuit in March of 2024, the goal was to put itself in a better position if it ever wanted to leave the ACC.

I think it is safe to say it did just that and then some.

The settlement agreement, according to Fowler, allows any league member “to pay a flat exit fee and leave with ‘exclusive’ access to their media rights.”

This was a point of emphasis by Clemson in its lawsuit. It wanted the ability to own its media rights if it were to leave the conference.

In case you are wondering, each of the ACC’s 18 member institutions approved and signed off on the changes listed in the settlement agreement.

Besides getting full access to its media rights, Clemson also gained more voting power in the ACC.

According to North Carolina based attorney David McKenzie, he told Fowler, “the section about the ACC needing written consent or a “yes” vote from Clemson in order to alter policies regarding its withdrawal fees, revenue distribution and ‘brand initiative’ policies essentially gives Clemson ‘veto power.’ The settlement creates a ‘protected period’ through 2036 in which Clemson has “enhanced voting power on these issues, regardless of what voting thresholds would normally apply under ACC bylaws,” he said.

Then there is the case to earn more money through a “brand initiative,” which Clemson and Florida State have demanded for years.

According to Fowler’s report, “An altered ACC bylaw regarding ‘multi-media revenue’ distribution now says that the conference will distribute 40% of multimedia revenue equally among member schools and the remaining 60% per the terms of its new ‘multi-media revenue distribution policy.’ Among that dollar amount (60% of the total money pool), 75% of the money will be distributed to schools based on football viewership and 25% will be distributed off men’s basketball viewership.”

The above does not include the College Football Playoff. ACC teams that make the CFP will receive $4 million for playing in the CFP. If they advance to the quarterfinals they will receive an additional $4 million, $6 million for making to the semifinals and $6 million for making it to the national championship game.

What it all boils down to is it is a win for Clemson. And that is all Clemson ever wanted.