ACC commissioner Jim Phillips confirms "seismic shift in college athletics" amid potential conference realignment moves in Atlantic coast

The world of college athletics has been changing vastly over the course of the last handful of years. Some of the commissioners have come out and discussed the situation, including Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips. The commissioner discussed the situation with reporters during the conference's spring meetings in Amelia Island, Florida.

"This is a seismic shift in college athletics. It's not a matter of if; it's going to happen. It's happening now," Jim Phillips said. h/t Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This is in part due to the three lawsuits that the NCAA is expected to settle, with the NCAA owing $2.8 billion in damages, per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

Beyond the lawsuits, college athletics has increasingly mirrored the structure and dynamics of professional leagues. One way this has occurred is through conference realignment, with programs opting to switch conferences in pursuit of greater revenue streams.

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What seismic shifts could the ACC see this offseason?

The ACC his one of the conferences rumored to have programs moving out. They are currently in the midst of two lawsuits against the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles as they want to leave the conference but the Grant of Rights has been the major standing point.

The conference is going to be dealing with college programs wanting to explore other conferences that are going to give the schools more revenue. The health of the Atlantic Coast Conference seems to be questionable at the moment as the impending departure of two of the top schools could lead to more chaos down the road.

The ACC has some issues on its own as its media rights deal is nowhere near the levels of the Big Ten, Big 12, or Southeastern Conference so the ability to retain or have premier programs look at the Atlantic Coast Conference as an option is not there.

If the lawsuits for Clemson and Florida State go in favor of the schools, the seismic shift might result in the impending collapse of the ACC.