Where AD Boo Corrigan said NC State stands on the future of the ACC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- N.C. State remains committed to ACC while monitoring realignment trends.
- ACC settlement adjusts payouts; viewership and success now drive revenues.
- Corrigan stresses patience and strategic planning amid evolving landscape.
College athletics continue to change, from policies, conferences and funding, but one thing is expected to remain the same for a while: N.C. State’s status in the ACC.
“We’re a proud member of the ACC,” N.C. State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan said on Friday. “Love being in the ACC. Believe it’s a highly competitive conference on a national level with great teams.”
Corrigan did not completely rule out any changes, saying the university is “surveying the landscape.” The focus, however, is creating success and making strategic moves that benefit the institution, its coaches and student-athletes.
His statements come after the ACC settled its lawsuits with Clemson and Florida State this summer, altering the league’s revenue distribution and reducing exit penalties for members opting to leave before 2036.
The exit fee for 2026 is $165 million, with the cost dropping $18 million per year until 2030-31 and beyond. The fee schedule is significant due to TV deals in the Big Ten (2029-30), Big 12 (2030) and a new College Football Playoff media rights contract (2031-32).
Additionally, the ACC altered its payouts to institutions because of the settlements. In 2023-24, the conference paid an average of $45 million to its member schools with little variation. The settlement created a viewing initiative, providing more funding to programs with higher television viewership. The ACC already implemented an unequal distribution model based on postseason success, but the new metrics-based model changes the distribution agreement further.
“I think [if] you look at a lot of conferences around the country, they do have a couple, 3-4-5 schools that are driving the majority of the ratings,” Corrigan said. “I think Commissioner [Jim] Phillips took a big step forward by trying to create a creative answer.”
Corrigan emphasized the importance of winning football games for a chance at the College Football Playoff and winning basketball games for a shot at the NCAA Tournament. Having winning programs and support are necessary regardless of the conference affiliation, as the major conferences all have some sort of success initiative in its payout structure.
N.C. State is one of the founding members of the league and was one of the institutions to vote in favor of expanding the conference with California, Stanford and SMU.
Corrigan said no one would’ve believed five years ago the current landscape would exist and can’t really forecast the next five to 10 years. He is approaching decisions, including conference realignment, with intention, balancing forethought with patience.
“You’re not really sure what’s going to come out in two weeks or three weeks that’s going to change the dynamic that you’re working under,” Corrigan said. “Our [method] is taking a really patient approach to what’s going on, as opposed to making an immediate decision that you have to change. We’d rather be patient with it, thoughtful with it, and then come out with the right decision.”
