The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has been paying players directly for only three weeks, but concerns over its sustainability have already surfaced. In a message to the league’s football kickoff, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips emphasized that despite still having significant work to be done, progress has been made.
Phillips acknowledged that collective efforts will continue to shape the future of the new system, but also urged caution in addressing potential disputes. The College Sports Commission, which is overseeing the deals, has expressed doubts about some of the collective’s proposals, stating they don’t align with industry standards for “legitimate NIL” (Name, Image, and Likeness).
Meanwhile, Phillips stressed the importance of transparency and standardized rules, as schools can now share up to $20.5 million directly with players. The clearinghouse, NIL Go, has seen 15,519 player registrations and almost 2,000 agent sign-ups so far.
Phillips also addressed several other topics during the kickoff event, including future College Football Playoff formats that prioritize top conference champions and potential rule changes in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, the ACC plans to mandate player availability reports two days before each game and impose fines for field/court stormings after games if visiting teams have not yet left the area.
The commission has set a new fine structure: $50,000 for the first offense, escalating to $100,000 and $200,000 for subsequent offenses over a period of two years. ESPN also announced that former Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher will join the ACC Network as an analyst.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6508762/2025/07/22/acc-commissioner-ncaa-revenue-sharing-model