• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

SMU Pays Way Into ACC With $200M From Boosters

  • SMU is moving to the ACC from the American Athletic Conference in 2024.
  • Big donations will make up for SMU agreeing to receive no media revenue upon entry.
Jordan Hofeditz/Reporter-News/USA TODAY NETWORK

The financial reality of Southern Methodist University’s 2024 move to the ACC could set a new standard for schools with equally wealthy boosters.

To make up for foregoing media rights revenue distribution for its first nine years in the conference, influential SMU donor David Miller was able to get $200 million in donation commitments from the school’s richest boosters, according to Yahoo Sports.

That equates to about $22.2 million a year — which will help make up a major chunk of the $30 million annual revenue gap between SMU and the ACC’s current 14 members. 

The ACC was concerned SMU wouldn’t be able to compete without that money, per the report.

Last year, SMU received $9 million in American Athletic Conference revenue distribution, but the business of the Mustangs is much bigger than that. Annual donations to SMU’s athletic department have typically been around $15-20 million, according to the school’s president Gerald Turner — similar to donations received by ACC schools like North Carolina and other Power 5 universities like Arizona, Arkansas and Purdue.

When Miller met with the top boosters to seal the move to the ACC, the combined net worth of the room was believed to be about $15 billion.

“It’s a couple hundred million dollars,” Miller said. “I’m not losing sleep over it.”

Miller’s self-described “business transaction” in moving SMU to the ACC could significantly tilt the balance in funding between individual schools and their conferences.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Virginia Tech’s Perceived $56M Budget Gap Shows New Challenges

Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock wants a $200 million budget.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) attempts to gain possession of the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers players in the second quarter of a college football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.

Power 4’s Next Era: Will Player Availability Reports Fuel Betting Ties?

The Big 12 became the final Power 4 conference to require injury reports.

More Dildo Throwing During WNBA Games Leads to Second Arrest

The 18-year-old threw a dildo that hit another fan and his young niece.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
The cast of ESPN College GameDay begins their show prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. The show is the final one for Lee Corso.

OSU Sophomore Wins $250K in McAfee ‘GameDay’ Kicking Contest

The former NFL punter started offering prize money for kicks in 2023.
Mike Gundy
September 2, 2025

OSU’s Gundy, Oregon’s Lanning Trade Barbs Over Alleged $30 Million Gap

Lanning ripped Gundy’s “excuse” and said “we spend to win.”
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at Ohio Stadium.
September 2, 2025

On This Year’s CFB Rosters, Even Backup QBs Make Six Figures

The going rate for backup quarterbacks is in the mid-six-figures.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
September 2, 2025

Less Belichick Hype Could Mean Bad News for CFB Stakeholders

UNC had never begun a football season with so much hype.
September 1, 2025

Bill Belichick’s Star-Studded UNC Coaching Debut Turns Ugly

Michael Jordan highlighted a long list of celebrities in attendance.
August 30, 2025

5 of 10 Highest-Paid CFB Coaches Lose in Week 1

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was the biggest surprise of the Week 1 losers.
August 29, 2025

Cody Campbell Asks Congress to Allow National College Sports TV Package

The billionaire’s ad will air on ESPN and Fox this weekend.