ACC

ACC Now podcast: Chris Spatola on NIL impact, football divisions, basketball schedules

Chris Spatola, ESPN college basketball analyst and SiriusXM host, joins the N&O’s Steve Wiseman to talk about the latest news from the ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Florida.
Chris Spatola, ESPN college basketball analyst and SiriusXM host, joins the N&O’s Steve Wiseman to talk about the latest news from the ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Florida.

Chris Spatola, ESPN college basketball analyst and SiriusXM host, joins the N&O’s Steve Wiseman to talk about the latest news from the ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Florida. The two discuss the widening revenue gap between the ACC and the national leaders, the SEC and Big Ten, and other league issues like abandoning football divisions for more attractive matchups in regular season and title game.

They also make a case for why the ACC should radically alter its basketball schedules — playing league games in November and December and more nonconference games in January and February. And they explain how name, imagine and likeness (NIL) and Alston-related payments are helping college basketball and where they aren’t.

You can also listen to this episode of the ACC Now podcast, and others, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, TuneIn and Stitcher.

This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 11:57 AM.

Steve Wiseman
The News & Observer
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989. 
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER