ACC schools rank 4th among Power 5 schools in average conference payout for Fiscal Year 2022
Thanks in large part to the ACC Network reaching full distribution in December 2021, the Atlantic Coast Conference registered a record $617 million in revenue for Fiscal Year 2022, according to 2021-22 tax returns obtained Friday by USA Today and other media outlets.
Even still, ACC schools ranked fourth among the Power 5 conferences with an average distribution of about $39.4 million for that year. That was about $10 million less than their counterparts in the Southeastern Conference and $20 million less than schools in the Big Ten.
According to the reports, Big Ten schools received $58.8 million per school, while members of the SEC received $49.9 million. And those conferences are projected to receive much greater revenue in the coming years following the additions of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, and Southern Cal and UCLA to the Big Ten.
Recent projections show the revenue gap between the ACC and its rivals in the SEC and Big Ten will soon grow to $30 million to $40 million per school, per year.
The Big 12 generated less overall revenue ($480.6 million) than the ACC in 2021-22, but because it has fewer schools receiving payouts, the distributions ranged from $42 million to $44.9 million. Pac-12 schools received $37 million.
As for overall revenues, the Big Ten distributed $845.6 million, the SEC delivered $802 million, and the Pac-12 generated $580.9 million.
Pitt, the 2021 ACC football champion, received the most money of any school in the league for the 2022 Fiscal Year at $41.3 million. Expenses for events such as bowl games and postseason competition account for some schools receiving more money than others.
The conference tax returns became available at the end of a week that saw reports surface that Florida State and at least six other schools have been holding informal talks about the future and stability of the ACC.
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