Miami’s rise in roster spending is creating a gap the ACC can’t ignore.
The Athletic’s estimated 2026 budgets, released Wednesday, show the Hurricanes in a different financial tier from the rest of their league. Miami is projected at $44 million to $50 million, putting it in the same neighborhood as Ohio State, Oregon, LSU and Texas - a group of programs approaching the $50 million mark. No other ACC team comes close.
Clemson is next in line at $29 million to $32 million, while Florida State and Virginia Tech are estimated in the $25 million to $30 million range. Most of the conference sits between $16 million and $26 million. Boston College is last among Power 4 programs at $8 million to $13 million.
That kind of spread matters because Miami is the only ACC school spending like a heavyweight from the SEC or Big Ten. The rest of the league is investing, but not at that level.
For the Hurricanes, the payoff is obvious in the short term. They’ve rolled over the last two weeks and are currently projected to win their first ACC title since joining the conference. But the bigger question is what this means for the league’s future.
Clemson and Florida State, two of the ACC’s biggest brands, both have major questions hanging over their programs. If Miami is the conference’s financial standard-bearer for the next few seasons, is that enough to keep the ACC strong?
There are schools doing solid work - SMU, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Pitt, Louisville and Georgia Tech among them. Still, expecting those programs, with maybe SMU as the exception, to consistently push their roster spending into the $40 million to $50 million range seems unrealistic.
They might be able to do it once. Doing it every year is another story.
That leaves the ACC in a tricky spot. Miami could end up benefiting more from a stronger Clemson and Florida State than from standing alone at the top of the spending ladder. And while it’s far too early to talk about the conference eject button, this is a trend worth watching.
In Other News...
Miami Heads Into Wake Forest With A Depth Problem Fans Feared
Miamis trip to Wake Forest comes with the kind of early-week availability report that can change the tone of a game before kickoff. The ACCs first report listed four Hurricanes as out because of injuries: cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Xavier Lucas, defensive back JaBoree Antoine and tight end Luka Gilbert. For Mario Cristobal, the good news is that he has already laid out the injury details and recovery timelines, giving Miami at least some clarity as it tries to sort through a thinner-than-ideal roster.
The bigger issue is how those absences shape the matchup against a Wake Forest offense expected to have Gio Lopez available. Lopez is listed as probable and expected to start, which puts the spotlight on a Miami defense already dealing with missing bodies in the secondary, along with a tight end spot that now has to be reworked as well. It is the sort of depth test no team wants this late in the season, especially on the road, and it leaves the Hurricanes needing answers in areas that were supposed to be settled. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Said What Miami Fans Were Already Thinking
Kirk Herbstreit was quick to weigh in when Miami's new apparel deal came together, and his reaction on social media only echoed what plenty of Hurricanes fans had been saying for a while. After years of hearing complaints about the Adidas look, the switch to Nike felt like a clean break, and the ESPN analyst made it clear he was happy to see the program move in that direction.
Herbstreit has not been shy about his dislike for Miami's old uniforms, so his enthusiasm for the new gear fit neatly with the broader buzz around the move. As one of the most visible voices in college football coverage and a staple on College GameDay, his public praise gave the deal a little extra shine, even if Miami supporters were already celebrating the change on their own. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces A Bigger Road Test Than Hurricanes Fans Expected
Miamis next stop in ACC play brings a tougher road exam than many fans probably penciled in when the schedule came out. The No. 5 Hurricanes head to Winston-Salem on September 18 for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff against Wake Forest, with both teams unbeaten at 2-0. Miami has handled Stanford and Florida A&M so far, while Wake Forest has matched that start with wins over Akron and Purdue.
It sets up a game that feels a little bigger than a routine September trip, especially with Miami already into its second league road game of the season. Broadcast details, injury updates and a few key players will all matter once the focus shifts to Saturday night, but the broader picture is simple enough: this is the kind of road test that can tell you plenty about how sturdy the Hurricanes really are. [Read more 🡒]