The ACC’s turn in the mid-summer spotlight at ACC Kickoff, which began Wednesday in Charlotte, “differed markedly from the Big 12 version that unfolded last week,” and the disparities “reflect an emerging theme that should not be ignored: the growing inequality among unequals,” according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose MERCURY-NEWS. The ACC and Big 12 “aren’t merely lacking in equality relative to the Power Two; they are becoming dissimilar to each other.” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips announced Wednesday that the conference generated more than $900M in gross revenue in FY2026. The Big 12, according to Commissioner Brett Yormark, will have gross revenue for FY26 of just over $700M. The ACC is “expected to distribute an average of more than” $50M to its full-share members in FY26, while projections for the Big 12 suggest each of its 16 members will collect approximately $40.5M. Wilner wrote, “Another disparity: internal peace.” The ACC “quelled a revolt” by Florida State and Clemson in the spring of 2025, leaving the 17 schools “reasonably content with the state of affairs, thanks in large part to a success initiative crafted by Phillips.” Wilner: “Meanwhile, the Big 12 is anything but harmonious, with Texas Tech assuming the role of school bully” (San Jose MERCURY-NEWS, 7/15).
PLAN TO GROW REVENUE: The AP’s Aaron Beard wrote the ACC has “included more emphasis on corporate sponsorships” as it looks to generate more revenue. That also includes finding event sponsors for naming rights and securing deals for advertisements on conference TV networks. Phillips said, “We have to continue to find incremental dollars each and every year that continue to grow.” The ACC has doubled its list of corporate sponsorships to nine in the past five years, a list that includes Apple, Dr Pepper, Gatorade and Allstate. On Wednesday, the league announced a deal with AI cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest, which includes advertising through ESPN, ESPN parent company Disney and the ACC Network. That goes with other adjustments such as changes to the league’s revenue distribution model to “reward programs that generate higher TV viewership” and the “success initiative” that allows schools to “keep money generated by their own postseason success.” In the ACC’s case, that meant hiring Anthony Macri last September as its first CRO. Macri is trying to bolster sponsorship revenue for the conference, as well as help schools in “determining their own options on anything from patches on jerseys to arena signage” (AP, 7/15).
