The ACC Spring Meetings were this week, and plenty was said. The ACC supports a 24 team playoff. Well that’s nice. There was talk about Duke’s deal with Amazon. That was very good for Duke. Jim Phillip’s said the league is healthy and in a good place. CW extended it’s television rights with the ACC and ESPN until 2031. Jim Phillip’s even brought increased television viewership in football.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said ACC football viewership was up 68% year over year last season & only ACC & SEC showed growth in average regular season viewership of the Power 4 leagues
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 13, 2026
That’s all well and good. None of it was bad, but Jim Phillips didn’t say what needs to be said. With increased viewership, is ESPN increasing revenues? Did you hear that? I didn’t hear that. The uneven distribution model was mentioned, and that’s fine. Miami is going to cash in from that from this past year, but the reality is that’s shuffling money around as a bandaid.
I’m certain Jim Phillips goes to ESPN each year and asks what can you do for us. He inherited a rotten deal, but well it’s now his job to do something about it.
As the end of the decade slowly starts to near, pretty much anything comes out of the ACC offices will be met with collective yawn until there’s something that increases revenue.
Don’t let the end of decade come Mr. Phillips without something, because well you know.
