With ACC Kick next week, the ACC commissioner gets an opportunity to talk about the state of the Atlantic Coast Conference before getting into football. The past week, the Big 12’s Brett Yormark shared that the Big 12 had completed a sponsorship deal with Monster Energy, for about $1 Million annually per school.
That deal certainly won’t have the Big 10 and SEC looking over their shoulders. Some critics even said it was undervalued. That might be true, but it was a conference-driven attempt at raising revenues. Who knows, 1 deal turns into a few more over time, and you maybe you end up with 10 such deals, and suddenly you may be looking at $5-10 million more per school. Who cares in this climate if your jersey ends up looking like a race car.
At the very least, Yormark is trying, and it’s something tangible in regard to revenue.
Ok Jim Phillips, your turn. What’s your revenue plan for the ACC? Is there anything at all in the works? Bueller? Bueller?
We’ve been asking this question about Phillips’s plan since 2023.
Sure, the additions of SMU, Cal, and Stanford created a temporary influx of money that the ACC schools benefited from. Yes, there are athletic and viewing initiatives. The problem is that these solutions are just swapping money around. Where is something concrete? Nothing is catching the P2, but at least try something, anything.
Of course, there is the Media Deal that ESPN is not budging on, but what about increased sponsorship deals? What about private capital?
There is this nugget floating around.
And here’s the angle that changes everything long term
The Big 12 closed a private equity deal with RedBird Capital.
The ACC is pursuing $600 million in private capital.
Private equity firms do not invest in public universities.
They invest in corporate entities with clear…
— Dan Furman (@Dan_Furman) July 10, 2026
Whatever your thoughts on PE’s, it’s at least an attempt if there’s something to it.
Jim Phillips better not leave ACC Media Days without addressing in detail the revenues, and for goodness sakes, don’t keep saying the ACC is third in revenue. Nobody cares if the ACC is ahead of the Big 12. It doesn’t matter. Attempting to close the gap with the P2 is the only thing that does.
That’s #1 what he should talk about. #2 should be the ACC Football Success in 2025. The ACC went 8-6 against the SEC, 9-5 in bowl games, and, of course, Miami made a historic run to the national title game and finished #2 in the country. Shout it loud and often, Jim Phillips. Don’t in any way present your league as a second-rate football conference trying to play catch-up. The results say the ACC is a highly competitive P4 league.
Let’s see what Phillips has for us next week.
