RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina appeals court is scheduled to hear why the University of Maryland shouldn't have to pay an exit penalty of more than $50 million for leaving the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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The next round of the grudge match comes before the North Carolina Court of Appeals on Thursday morning. A ruling could take several months, and any decision could be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The legal battle was born from shifting college conference lineups spurred by billion-dollar athletics revenues.

The ACC sued Maryland after the school announced its departure for the Big Ten. The ACC's lawsuit was filed in North Carolina, where the conference is headquartered. Maryland responded by suing the ACC in Maryland in January, calling the amount an illegal penalty. That case is on hold.

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