Latest news with #JimPhillips
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
College Football Playoff management committee meeting to possibly switch bracket to straight seeding format
The College Football Playoff management committee was scheduled to meet Thursday, with a possible decision on how the 12-team field will be seeded and which teams receive first-round byes this season on the table. While the format for the 2026 is still undecided, with more expansion likely on the way, that is not expected to be settled this week. The next in-person meeting of the management committee is scheduled for mid-June. Advertisement Unanimous approval is needed among the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director who make up the committee to switch to a straight seeding format. Last week, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, who had previously said the CFP should move cautiously when considering a change to the seeding format, said he could support a change to straight seeding for this season. Phillips had noted previously that NFL playoff seeding gives preference to division winners over wildcards with better records. A proposal to change that was submitted by the Detroit Lions but withdrawn this week before it ever got to a vote by the league's owners. The format for last season's first 12-team CFP reserved the top four seeds and byes that go with them for the four highest-ranked conference champions that make the Playoff. That produced an odd bracket last year when ninth-ranked Boise State, the Mountain West champion, was the third seed and 12th-ranked Arizona State, the Big 12 champ, was seeded fourth. The expected change would have the seeds match the selection committee's final rankings, regardless of conference affiliation. A move to straight seeding would also allow independent Notre Dame to receive a top-four seed and a first-round bye. The change would likely come with a financial agreement. Each team that makes the CFP receives $4 million and another $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals. With a seeding change, the top-four conference champions would receive $8 million, which goes to teams that reach the quarterfinals regardless of whether they reach that round.
USA Today
18-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
ACC ranks third among Power Conferences in revenue as Big Ten, SEC remain atop
ACC ranks third among Power Conferences in revenue as Big Ten, SEC remain atop The ACC reported $711.4 million in revenue for the 2024 fiscal year, marking the third-highest total among the Power Four conferences. On average, the league distributed roughly $45 million to each full member institution — a figure that still trails behind its top-tier competitors. The SEC distributed $52.6 million per school, while the Big Ten led the way by sending as much as $63.2 million to each of its 12 longest-standing members, according to data released this week. Though the ACC's overall revenue remained nearly flat compared to 2023 — when it brought in $706.7 million — its legal costs rose significantly due to ongoing disputes and litigation. The conference reported $12.3 million in outside legal expenses this fiscal year, up from $7.2 million a year ago. Much of that spike was driven by membership-related legal battles with Florida State and Clemson, as well as the conference's involvement in the broader House v. NCAA antitrust case. The heightened legal activity has fueled speculation around the ACC's long-term stability. Both Clemson and Florida State have filed lawsuits challenging the league's Grant of Rights, threatening the cohesion of a conference that's already under financial pressure to keep pace with the SEC and Big Ten. Looking ahead, however, there's optimism for growth. The additions of Stanford, Cal, and SMU — which become full members in the 2025 fiscal year — are expected to boost the ACC's revenue. It will also be the first year the conference introduces performance-based revenue incentives, rewarding schools for postseason success in football and both men's and women's basketball. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips addressed the state of the league and the broader college landscape, urging for a cooling-off period after several years of constant change. 'I just think you've got to settle down,' Phillips told reporters. 'I think college athletics needs to settle down, not just the ACC. I think we've positioned ourselves for that. The chaos and constant wondering of what's happening here or there, that distracts from the business at hand. I feel good about where we're at, and while I do take things one day at a time, I think there's a period of time where let's settle in and get things done.' Here's how the major conferences stacked up in per-school revenue distribution for the 2024 fiscal year: Big Ten: $63.2 million to its longest-standing 12 members $63.2 million to its longest-standing 12 members SEC: $52.6 million per school $52.6 million per school ACC: Between $43.1 and $46.4 million per full member (excluding Notre Dame, which received $20.7 million) Between $43.1 and $46.4 million per full member (excluding Notre Dame, which received $20.7 million) Big 12: Between $37.8 million and $42.1 million per school As conference realignment, lawsuits, and revenue gaps continue to shape the landscape, the ACC finds itself at a crossroads — working to maintain stability while trying to position itself for a stronger financial future. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
ACC revenues and payouts climbed in 2023-24. So too did legal bills amid FSU, Clemson lawsuits
The Atlantic Coast Conference set league records for revenue and member payouts yet also had a growing legal bill amid since-settled lawsuits from members Clemson and Florida State, according to the league's most recent tax filing. The 990 tax form covering the 2023-24 season reported the league's revenue increased to about $711.4 million, up slightly from $706.6 million a year earlier. That allowed the ACC to pay an average of nearly $45 million to its 14 football-playing members — Louisville ($46.4 million) and FSU ($46.3 million) had the highest hauls — while Notre Dame made $20.7 million for its partial share as a football independent. Those figures don't reflect the arrivals of California, Stanford and SMU as new members to push the league to 18 schools for the 2024-25 season. Nor does it include the 'success initiative" championed by commissioner Jim Phillips that went into effect this season for schools to keep more money generated by their own postseason success. The ACC has also revamped its revenue-distribution plan to factor in TV viewership and reward top-draw schools. That takes effect next year as part of the settlement that ended the threats from the Clemson and FSU cases challenging the league's ability to charge massive exit fees if they tried to join another league. Phillips has talked about the league's 'aggressive' efforts to generate more revenue amid a growing gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, though the league had been ahead of the smaller Big 12 in revenue and payouts in its filings for the previous year. Notably, the launch of the ESPN-partnered ACC Network in August 2019 has been a boost. The league reported $288.6 million in TV revenue for the 2018-19 season before the network's launch, but that figure reached $487.1 million for 2023-24 — a 68.8% increase. Yet amid those gains, the league reported more than $12.3 million in legal expenses for 2023-24, a 70.2% jump from the previous year ($7.2 million) coming as FSU filed a December 2023 lawsuit and Clemson followed in March 2024. The increased legal costs also come amid legal cases reshaping the landscape of college athletics, including the landmark settlement to a $2.8 billion federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by athletes against the NCAA and its largest conferences. That settlement is awaiting final approval by a federal judge before terms can go into effect as early as July 1, such as schools sharing more than $20 million annually with athletes. The ACC reported nearly $19.6 million in legal expenses through its two most recent tax filings, similar to the combined total reported for the previous six years ($20.8 million). Still, the resolution in the FSU and Clemson cases, along with ESPN in January picking up its option to extend its base-rights ACC media deal through 2035-36, offered a measure of league stability when it came to its annual spring meetings in Florida this week. 'Chaos and the constant wondering of what's happening here or there, I just think that distracts from the business at hand," Phillips said then. "But I feel good about where we're at.'
Fox Sports
17-05-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
ACC revenues and payouts climbed in 2023-24. So too did legal bills amid FSU, Clemson lawsuits
Associated Press The Atlantic Coast Conference set league records for revenue and member payouts yet also had a growing legal bill amid since-settled lawsuits from members Clemson and Florida State, according to the league's most recent tax filing. The 990 tax form covering the 2023-24 season reported the league's revenue increased to about $711.4 million, up slightly from $706.6 million a year earlier. That allowed the ACC to pay an average of nearly $45 million to its 14 football-playing members — Louisville ($46.4 million) and FSU ($46.3 million) had the highest hauls — while Notre Dame made $20.7 million for its partial share as a football independent. Those figures don't reflect the arrivals of California, Stanford and SMU as new members to push the league to 18 schools for the 2024-25 season. Nor does it include the 'success initiative" championed by commissioner Jim Phillips that went into effect this season for schools to keep more money generated by their own postseason success. The ACC has also revamped its revenue-distribution plan to factor in TV viewership and reward top-draw schools. That takes effect next year as part of the settlement that ended the threats from the Clemson and FSU cases challenging the league's ability to charge massive exit fees if they tried to join another league. Phillips has talked about the league's 'aggressive' efforts to generate more revenue amid a growing gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, though the league had been ahead of the smaller Big 12 in revenue and payouts in its filings for the previous year. Notably, the launch of the ESPN-partnered ACC Network in August 2019 has been a boost. The league reported $288.6 million in TV revenue for the 2018-19 season before the network's launch, but that figure reached $487.1 million for 2023-24 — a 68.8% increase. Yet amid those gains, the league reported more than $12.3 million in legal expenses for 2023-24, a 70.2% jump from the previous year ($7.2 million) coming as FSU filed a December 2023 lawsuit and Clemson followed in March 2024. The increased legal costs also come amid legal cases reshaping the landscape of college athletics, including the landmark settlement to a $2.8 billion federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by athletes against the NCAA and its largest conferences. That settlement is awaiting final approval by a federal judge before terms can go into effect as early as July 1, such as schools sharing more than $20 million annually with athletes. The ACC reported nearly $19.6 million in legal expenses through its two most recent tax filings, similar to the combined total reported for the previous six years ($20.8 million). Still, the resolution in the FSU and Clemson cases, along with ESPN in January picking up its option to extend its base-rights ACC media deal through 2035-36, offered a measure of league stability when it came to its annual spring meetings in Florida this week. 'Chaos and the constant wondering of what's happening here or there, I just think that distracts from the business at hand," Phillips said then. "But I feel good about where we're at.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and recommended in this topic
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ACC revenues and payouts climbed in 2023-24. So too did legal bills amid FSU, Clemson lawsuits
The Atlantic Coast Conference set league records for revenue and member payouts yet also had a growing legal bill amid since-settled lawsuits from members Clemson and Florida State, according to the league's most recent tax filing. The 990 tax form covering the 2023-24 season reported the league's revenue increased to about $711.4 million, up slightly from $706.6 million a year earlier. That allowed the ACC to pay an average of nearly $45 million to its 14 football-playing members — Louisville ($46.4 million) and FSU ($46.3 million) had the highest hauls — while Notre Dame made $20.7 million for its partial share as a football independent. Those figures don't reflect the arrivals of California, Stanford and SMU as new members to push the league to 18 schools for the 2024-25 season. Nor does it include the 'success initiative" championed by commissioner Jim Phillips that went into effect this season for schools to keep more money generated by their own postseason success. The ACC has also revamped its revenue-distribution plan to factor in TV viewership and reward top-draw schools. That takes effect next year as part of the settlement that ended the threats from the Clemson and FSU cases challenging the league's ability to charge massive exit fees if they tried to join another league. Phillips has talked about the league's 'aggressive' efforts to generate more revenue amid a growing gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, though the league had been ahead of the smaller Big 12 in revenue and payouts in its filings for the previous year. Notably, the launch of the ESPN-partnered ACC Network in August 2019 has been a boost. The league reported $288.6 million in TV revenue for the 2018-19 season before the network's launch, but that figure reached $487.1 million for 2023-24 — a 68.8% increase. Yet amid those gains, the league reported more than $12.3 million in legal expenses for 2023-24, a 70.2% jump from the previous year ($7.2 million) coming as FSU filed a December 2023 lawsuit and Clemson followed in March 2024. The increased legal costs also come amid legal cases reshaping the landscape of college athletics, including the landmark settlement to a $2.8 billion federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by athletes against the NCAA and its largest conferences. That settlement is awaiting final approval by a federal judge before terms can go into effect as early as July 1, such as schools sharing more than $20 million annually with athletes. The ACC reported nearly $19.6 million in legal expenses through its two most recent tax filings, similar to the combined total reported for the previous six years ($20.8 million). Still, the resolution in the FSU and Clemson cases, along with ESPN in January picking up its option to extend its base-rights ACC media deal through 2035-36, offered a measure of league stability when it came to its annual spring meetings in Florida this week. 'Chaos and the constant wondering of what's happening here or there, I just think that distracts from the business at hand," Phillips said then. "But I feel good about where we're at.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
