The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that its 15 current or future members have agreed to a grant of media rights which could close the door or at least provide a significant obstacle for UConn to eventually join the ACC.

"This announcement further highlights the continued solidarity and commitment by our member institutions," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. "The Council of Presidents has shown tremendous leadership in insuring the ACC is extremely well positioned with unlimited potential."

"The ACC has long been a leader in intercollegiate athletics, both academically and athletically," said the collective ACC Council of Presidents. "Collectively, we all agree the grant of rights further positions the ACC and its current and future member schools as one of the nation's premier conferences."

What this means is that the ACC members have given the media rights to the conference and if they were to bolt for another conference, those rights would continue to remain with the ACC meaning the member schools have reaffirmed their commitment to the ACC.

The Sporting News, citing a report from North Carolina-based syndicated radio host David Glenn, the grant of rights deal could extend to the end of the current deal between ESPN and the ACC which runs through the 2026-27 season.

The scuttlebutt was that when another conference like the Big 10 grabbed a team or two from the ACC that UConn would be at the top of the list to be invited into the ACC. While this doesn't officially prevent that from happening, it provides a serious road block for that to happen.