ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips doubled down in his support for the new revenue sharing model at the start of the conference’s media days event. He already has one coach in his conference going public with assumptions that schools are going around the new revenue rules. But a few media members in attendance saw fit to ask Phillips basketball questions in the midst of getting to the specifics of the new world order. So we don’t yet know if Phillips has the same take.
ACC Media Days
In a 30-minute address followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with the media, Phillips ranged from supporting the House v. NCAA settlement to calling on Congress to develop a national plan for college athletics, and an end to what he referred to as endless “One-off eligibility lawsuits.”
In his state of the conference address, Phillips said with the transformational changes brought about by the House settlement, “Everything will not be perfect immediately.” But he added that he is looking for help from Congress in getting a national system in place. He added that one of the ongoing concerns was what he called the weighing down of the process by “One-off eligibility lawsuits,” brought by former JUCO players looking for more years to play their college career.
Looking For Help
Phillips referenced the recent SCORE Act, which is a bipartisan congressional bill that is still in draft status. But one of the attributes that Phillips lauded was that the bill would specifically label the athletes as “student-athletes,” and specify that they are not employees of the university. “One of the major facets that we’re looking at in the SCORE Act is this reaffirmation that these are student-athletes, that these aren’t employees,” Phillips said. “Along with the national standard, some legal protection from the onslaught of lawsuits.”
Legal Freedom
Phillips also addressed the ACC-specific lawsuits, with members Florida State and Clemson. Both schools filed lawsuits last year to revisit the media Grant of Rights terms, and the exit fees for when they want to leave the conference. The conference countersued both schools for breach of contract.
All parties settled earlier this year, with the exit fees staying in place (to varying amounts), but with the schools having the right to leave the conference six years before the Grant of Rights expires. And the schools can leave with ownership of their broadcast rights in their pocket.
“I have a responsibility to make sure that our ACC schools want to be in this league, not just have to be in this league,” Phillips said. He added that schools are going to have to take some of the responsibility if they are not happy with the revenue earned in the ACC. “If you want to earn more money, then you’re going to need to invest.” Earlier in his address, he pointed out that he was unhappy with the performance of the conference in post-season football in 2024-25. The ACC got 13 playoff and bowl bids, but the teams went a combined 2-11.
But he also called part of the perception of the conference and its revenue, “A lazy narrative.”
Team Reports
Phillips also announced that the conference is mandating a player availability report (similar to the NFL’s injury report), for every school. For football, the report listing available players is due to the conference office two days before the game. He said there will be a fine to the school for non-compliance. But he acknowledged the system for fines has not yet been developed.
Main Image: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
