UNC’s football roster spending is reportedly in the middle of the ACC pack, even with the money flowing into the program.
A story in The Athletic, which said it gathered “as many independent, trustworthy estimates as possible from people inside and outside” for 68 programs across Notre Dame and the Power Four, pegged North Carolina’s roster budget at between $20 million and $25 million.
That estimate puts the Tar Heels eighth in the ACC. Ahead of UNC, according to the report, are No.
5 Miami at $44 million to $50 million, Clemson at $29 million to $32 million, Virginia Tech at $25 million to $30 million, Florida State at $23 million to $30 million, Georgia Tech at $23 million to $26 million, N.C. State at $22 million to $26 million and No.
23 Louisville at $22 million to $25 million.
At the top of the national list are No. 6 Ohio State at $49 million to $54 million, No.
21 Oregon at $48 million to $54 million and No. 1 Texas at $45 million to $55 million.
The Athletic’s report said 11 of the top 20 spenders are in the SEC, with six in the Big Ten.
The gap between leagues is sizable. The SEC’s average spending per team is estimated at between $33 million and $38 million, followed by the Big Ten at $27 million to $31 million, the ACC at $21 million to $25 million and the Big 12 at $18 million to $22 million.
The report also said Notre Dame’s roster spending lands between $41 million and $48 million.
Among other Power Four schools, Duke is estimated at $12 million to $15 million, while Boston College sits at $8 million to $13 million.
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Bill Belichicks arrival in Chapel Hill was always going to bring a national spotlight, and UNC has gotten plenty of it since he took over on a five-year deal. The first season was a rough one, with the Tar Heels finishing 4-8, but the new year has at least opened with some signs of life, including a recent win over East Tennessee State that gave the program a small lift after a difficult debut.
Still, the attention around the program has not been limited to what is happening on the field. UNC is dealing with an internal human resources investigation, and the ripple effects have already been felt in the building, with general manager Michael Lombardi resigning and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick on medical leave. For a program trying to steady itself under a high-profile coach, the off-field backdrop has only made the next steps more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes the case worth watching from North Carolinas side is the timing. The court has already taken testimony on a preliminary injunction request, and the ruling is still pending, leaving the Tar Heels in a holding pattern as the season picture comes into focus. For a program trying to sort out its roster and its competitive ceiling, this is the kind of off-court development that can ripple quickly once a decision finally lands. [Read more 🡒]
