ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips emphasized the need for cooperation and oversight among schools and conferences as college athletics works to establish a framework for the future. He urged coaches and athletics departments to abide by new restrictions on athlete compensation, which allow schools to spend up to $20.5 million annually on direct payments.
Phillips said setting up a standard with transparency is crucial in the “NIL era,” where athletes can negotiate their own name, image, and likeness contracts. He argued that this allows for gray areas and undermines the new structure.
The commissioner reiterated the need for government oversight and advocated for federal legislation to codify that student-athletes are not employees. Phillips’ comments echoed his push for a unified vision for college athletics, prioritizing both individual schools and conferences as well as the enterprise as a whole.
He expressed support for conference championships and increased access, suggesting he’d be open to a 14- or 16-team playoff that does not guarantee more than one berth for any conference. The potential expansion of the College Football Playoff remains a sticking point among commissioners, with different models being proposed.
Phillips said he wants to see specific metrics used to ensure teams with tougher schedules are rewarded, which could lead to a nine-game conference schedule in the SEC. He expressed skepticism about increasing the ACC’s non-conference games, citing the importance of traditional rivalries.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45795127/acc-commissioner-urges-cooperation-schools-conferences