Maryland's financial issues are not recent events. They have been struggling for decades. The B1Gs interest in Maryland has been known for some time.

Maryland successfully got the first exit fee increase limited to $20 million. Would they have stayed in the ACC believing that they could work with that number or possibly get the exit fee reduced if their financial situation became intolerable?

The exit fee was eventually raised to $50 million plus. Maryland had to challenge the $50 million fee fairly quickly. The courts would likely have said they should have challenged the fee when it was raised, not 3 years (example) after the fact.

So, did the ACC force Maryland's hand?

That's an interesting idea. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

The ACC was completely blindsided by Maryland's actions. Loh has proven himself to be a straght faced liar.