The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown Monday night as the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers square off against the No.
10 Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship. And while the spotlight will be on the field, there’s another storyline worth watching - the financial windfall Miami has already secured before a single snap.
Let’s start with the Hurricanes’ road to this moment. Miami opened the season red-hot at 5-0, but things got rocky fast.
Losses to unranked Louisville at home and a tough road defeat at SMU put their College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. For a moment, it looked like they might miss the dance altogether.
But when the final CFP bracket was revealed, Miami was in - and Notre Dame, notably, was out. The selection committee’s decision raised eyebrows, but now, with Miami on the brink of history as the lowest seed ever to win a national title, that choice is looking more justified by the day.
And while the Hurricanes are chasing a championship, they’ve already cashed in big thanks to the ACC’s unique revenue-sharing model.
Miami’s Payday: A CFP Run That’s Paying Dividends
Unlike some other conferences that split postseason revenue evenly or scale it based on rounds, the ACC has taken a different approach - one that rewards success directly. That’s been a game-changer for Miami.
Just by reaching the National Championship, the Hurricanes have earned an estimated $70 million in revenue - a full $20 million more than any other ACC program this year. That’s not just a pat on the back; that’s a massive return on investment for a program that’s poured serious resources into building a contender.
Here’s how the payout breaks down:
- First Round: $4 million
- Quarterfinals: $4 million
- Semifinals: $6 million
- Championship Game: $6 million
Add it all up, and Miami’s deep postseason run has turned into a financial jackpot.
Why Miami Keeps the Whole Check
This isn’t how things work in most conferences. The Big Ten, for example, splits its CFP revenue evenly among its members.
The SEC uses a tiered system based on how far a team advances. But the ACC?
It lets teams keep what they earn.
That’s part of a new revenue model the conference adopted following a major legal shake-up in 2025. After Florida State and Clemson challenged the ACC’s hefty exit fees in court, the resulting settlement didn’t just reduce those penalties - it also ushered in a brand-new way of distributing money.
The idea is simple: reward performance. If you win, you earn. And if you earn, you keep it.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips has stood by the model, calling it both “innovative” and a motivator for schools to invest in football success.
“The most successful earn the most,” Phillips said. “It’s a motivator for investment across all of our schools.”
A Bonus Before the Final Whistle
Even if the Hurricanes fall short in the title game, they’ve already made history - and not just on the field. This run has turned into a financial milestone for the program, a tangible return on the kind of investment that Miami has made in recent years to get back to national relevance.
And if they finish the job Monday night? That $70 million payday will come with something even more valuable: a national championship trophy.
Either way, Miami’s message is clear - in today’s college football landscape, winning doesn’t just bring glory. It brings the kind of money that can reshape a program.