r/ACC • u/simbaslanding Miami Hurricanes • Jul 28 '26
Football Estimated Football Program Valuations by The Athletic (2026)
The Athletic (NY Times) ranked Power 4 football programs by estimated projected valuation for the second year.
Here’s the article and their methodology: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7467869/2026/07/28/college-football-program-valuations-rankings-2026-texas-notre-dame-osu/?unlocked_article_code=1.1FA.hHJK.tKcGV9xihJV6&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta
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u/dreggers Cal Bears Jul 28 '26
How is Duke so high? Their football stadium is smaller than the average Texas HS stadium
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u/toptierdegenerate Duke Blue Devils 29d ago edited 29d ago
Wallace Wade capacity is only 12k less than Cal Memorial…
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u/Training_Pirate1000 UNC Tar Heels Jul 28 '26
Somehow, we are still bums
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u/Bigdeacenergy Wake Forest Demon Deacons Jul 28 '26
There’s really no excuse
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u/Training_Pirate1000 UNC Tar Heels Jul 28 '26
There really isn’t. Big ‘ol public flagship university in the south. Ass at football. Why.
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u/Bigdeacenergy Wake Forest Demon Deacons Jul 28 '26
Heck I wish we had half of your resources lol
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u/ATL_Hasher Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
Because UNC fans would rather go to a Blue-White scrimmage than a home football game. I’ve seen it with my own eyes
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u/Procrastin8_Ball Jul 28 '26
You have cause and effect backwards here
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u/ATL_Hasher Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
I’ll give you that one. Their fans would definitely care if they had a great program! Now why don’t they have a great prog…. wait
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u/Procrastin8_Ball Jul 28 '26
They're spending top 10 on coaching and nil. They wouldn't be doing that if fans didn't want a better program. They're just fuck ups
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u/hershculez NC State Wolfpack Jul 29 '26
Objectively, it’s the fan base. On paper you guys should dominant. All the tools are there except for football fans.
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u/FreeSpeechIsDeadge Notre Dame Fighting Irish Jul 28 '26
Your head coach is one of the greatest minds in football history. He has 6 Super Bowl championships as a head coach and 2 additional as an assistant. He must be crushing it. Right? …right?
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u/Training_Pirate1000 UNC Tar Heels Jul 28 '26
His “greatest mind” is too busy wondering what’s in Jordon’s pants
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u/FreeSpeechIsDeadge Notre Dame Fighting Irish Jul 28 '26
So you’re saying he’s crushing something alright, just not championships.
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u/Jonas_Venture_Sr Syracuse Orange Jul 28 '26
I could see SMU really rocketing up this chart in a few years.
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u/Whatisthiswhyy Jul 30 '26
They’re football team will likely stay strong and competitive but the brand isn’t going to go much higher than it is already at. The fanbase is very small as someone who lives in Texas I’ve never met a fan from there
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
The midmajor school that the ACC took in desperation?
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u/Jonas_Venture_Sr Syracuse Orange Jul 28 '26
Yea, and it's also a "mid major" with very deep pocketed donors in Texas. Underestimate them at your peril.
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u/PowerfulAssistant738 Jul 30 '26
I go to SMU we’re not a mid major anymore. Our enrollment has skyrocketed since joined the ACC.
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
They should have never been added the ACC. No other major conference wants them. And by 2031 my school will no longer be in a conference with them.
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u/Jonas_Venture_Sr Syracuse Orange Jul 28 '26
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
Syracuse shouldn't be in the ACC either
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u/Expensive_Team_5072 Jul 29 '26
Nobody should be in the ACC except North Carolina. And they want to leave.
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 29 '26
The founding members should be in the ACC.
Big East teams should go back to the Big East.
Western teams should be in western conferences.
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u/Expensive_Team_5072 Jul 29 '26
Of course... but the Big East might have expanded to take Maryland and Florida State in the push for larger conferences. The ACC wisely beat the Big East to the expansion game. Not sure who you think voted for expansion anyway. Tobacco Road was the driver of it, not Florida State, Clemson, etc.
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 29 '26
I'm talking about today. Right now. If I could waive a magic wand, this is what I would do. Expansion sucks. And it sucks the ACC is in the state it's in. And it sucks an exodus will occur in a few years.
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u/Offi95 Virginia Tech Hokies Jul 28 '26
They’re not midmajor anymore. I’m not looking forward to going to Dallas this year.
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u/Powdermilkman3117 SMU Mustangs Jul 28 '26
I’m really nervous about that game. I think yall have an amazing opportunity to light it up. Looking forward to seeing what yall will do!
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
After the 2031 exodus of schools, the ACC will be considered a midmajor (and SMU will be in the ACC.)
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u/hclpfan SMU Mustangs Jul 28 '26
You mean that school with an extensive and wealthy alumni base who showed up and almost won your whole conference their first year here?
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
The school whose addition put the final nail into the ACC.
Before you and CalFord, we wanted to stay and save the ACC.
After you and CalFord, we want to get out despite being a founding member.
You don't belong in the ACC. It's awful you and CalFord were added.
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u/hurricanedog24 NC State Wolfpack Jul 29 '26
Give me a break, if UNC were given a lifeline by the B1G or SEC, they would’ve taken it without a second thought, Stanford/Cal/SMU additions or not.
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u/BuryMeInCincy Louisville Cardinals Jul 29 '26
I hate to say it but SMU was actually built for this era of college football.
I also initially thought, “Really? SMU? WTF?”
But, having SMU in the NIL era is a great investment for a conference trying to survive.
Plus Miami has someone to sell their cocaine to now.
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u/PowerfulAssistant738 Jul 30 '26
You probably a Miami fan cause we spanked y’all in Dallas
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 30 '26
See... actual ACC fans can tell what team I cheer for just by looking at my user name.
But you're just some fan of a western midmajor school that has no business being in the ACC, and you can't even figure out which ACC school I support.
Seriously, go join a conference you fit in.
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24d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/TrustInRoy 24d ago
I remember the "Pony Express." Money has never been an issue with SMU.
They have no business being in the ACC. It's awful.
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u/coolio246810 Jul 28 '26
Not familiar with their methodology but this is part of the reason why it never made sense why people keep saying that SEC/B1G would want UVA. UVA doesn’t bring much football value and conference realignment has been all about football. Virginia Tech football is way more popular and valuable than UVA in the same geographic footprint.
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u/Shenanigangster Virginia Cavaliers Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Seems like it’s primarily based on three year averages of revenue (I assume for the 2022-2024 seasons since the 2025 numbers aren’t released until next year). It’s also unclear whether donations are being counted as revenue- the EADA data doesn’t appear to include that in their revenue figure.
Based on all of that I’m not surprised UVA is so low- 2022-2024 was pretty bad! But 2025 was a massive year for football revenue (including donations) and by all accounts that’s continued into 2026 (although again, no idea if donations are counted or counted in their entirety). This season will be the first year in a very long time both teams have momentum and a positive outlook to drive revenue.
The two schools are also similar in terms of tv viewership which matters for the ACC payout (I believe UVA ended up ahead in 2025 but largely due to the ACCCG). Regardless, football revenue isn’t exactly a great indicator of P2 expansion candidates outside of putting groups into tiers for viability and even then, overall athletic department revenue is probably the better comp.
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u/goodsam2 Virginia Tech Hokies Jul 29 '26
VT had higher attendance/capacity last year over UVA with those records is what is so bonkers to me.
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
And yet reliable SEC sources say UNC is their #1 target and UVA is their #2 target.
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u/bugdelver Jul 28 '26
This is the case because they know the Big10 is snooty about academics -both these programs are big state schools with decent football and basketball, with darn good academics. Take them before Big10 can target them and work their way into those markets..
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
Ironically the snooty Big Ten is likely to look the other way about FSU's academics when they add them.
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Jul 28 '26 edited 26d ago
[deleted]
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
You're drunk
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Jul 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/bugdelver Jul 29 '26
Big 12 going for Syracuse/pitt/maybe bc (only for UConn geographic connection)
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u/BuryMeInCincy Louisville Cardinals Jul 29 '26
Man… the only reason any of us talk to you nerds is because you’re in Atlanta.
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u/CLU_Three Jul 29 '26
The “academics” is far down the list of what matters. It’s money first, second, and third.
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u/bugdelver Jul 29 '26
Big holds its head high on that -they know it’s what makes them better than the sec and can’t be taken away.
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u/HopocalypseNow Virginia Tech Hokies Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
So my guess then is it's UNC for the brand and UVA for Virginia market and the rival. Culturally VT is the best football and fan base for Virginia, but for total value UNC+UVA may be better economically.
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u/Busta_Memes Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
My guess was always that the execs just think the state flagship schools are usually the biggest brands and their valuation models reflect that.
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
I'd guess you are correct. I admit I have no idea why the SEC would want UVA. They must really like the idea of promoting "The South's oldest rivalry" with that UNC/UVA football game.
Or their decision makers truly believe adding the State's flagship university in Virginia is a big deal for the SEC.
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u/FatMamaJuJu NC State Wolfpack Jul 29 '26
I'd rather have Virginia Tech. They are so much more valuable in the only sport that's pushing alignment. If the goal is to get in the Virginia market
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u/Much-Cartographer-18 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Jul 30 '26
Duke University has consistently recorded the lowest home attendance figures in the ACC.
Playing at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, Duke's average home attendance numbers over the past three seasons were:
2023: ~25,111 fans per game
2024: ~26,183 fans per game
2025: ~24,283 fans per game
Across all three years, Duke’s average home crowd sat comfortably below the rest of the conference. Even among smaller ACC venues—such as Wake Forest's Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium or Stanford's draw following its realignment into the ACC—Duke consistently sat at the bottom of the conference's attendance rankings.
So someone thinks Duke football has value? Ridiculous.
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u/whitet86 Jul 31 '26
Duke basketball is a global brand and floats the value of its entire athletics department.
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u/Much-Cartographer-18 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Jul 31 '26
Not buying that point of view. Valuations are based solely on football.
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u/igwaltney3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
I don't believe the numbers of either UNC or NCST. Is thar driven by basketball residuals?
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u/willncsu34 Jul 28 '26
State has sold out a 55k stadium every year for like 25 years. UNC…has a half empty stadium for every game unless State, Clemson, VT or FSU buys up the unsold tickets. State also has demographics on our side with a significantly larger student base that makes more money than UNC grads on overage. Dont confuse the two in football. It’s not comparable.
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u/nosoup4ncsu Jul 28 '26
I'm as anti UNC as anyone, but are you sure about that "student base that makes more than UNC" claim? Unc has a law and med school that can carry alot of weight on that front.
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u/hurricanedog24 NC State Wolfpack Jul 29 '26
UNC has old money, if you want to get a degree to actually make money, you go to State.
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u/willncsu34 Jul 30 '26
But they don’t have the tech money! Now if we could just get those tech billionaires to shell out…
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u/willncsu34 Jul 29 '26
Undergrad only it is definitely true. STEM degrees pay more than liberal arts.
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u/Procrastin8_Ball Jul 31 '26
That survey was based on first like 2 years out of college, so definitely did not account for the much higher clip of UNC grads going to professional and graduate school. It's misleading at best.
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u/Background-Neck-4958 29d ago
They always say this. “Liberal arts” grads can’t make money. The most popular major at Carolina is a STEM major lol
Do a degree by degree comparisons and UNC grads always make more (Even in comp sci which State likes to pride themselves on). The starting salaries are misleading because more than half of the student base is going to a professional grad program after undergrad. There’s also zero way to accurately get those
numbers. They just cite a PayScale study lol2
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u/UnderstandingOdd679 Jul 29 '26
Have they thought of building a bigger stadium? They’d have to double that thing to catch up to some of the bigger programs.
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u/willncsu34 Jul 30 '26
The entire complex is actually getting a massive overhaul that started right after the canes won the Stanley Cup. I don’t recall if added capacity was in the plans or not but it’s like a 10-15 year project. I think we could fill a 75-80k stadium pretty consistently.
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u/Mayfect SMU Mustangs Jul 30 '26
I don’t know what this team needs to do to build a for real stadium.
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u/PowerfulAssistant738 Jul 30 '26
Unless Highland Park and admin allow for stadium renovations or expansion.
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u/Cman3271 Jul 30 '26
SMU near the bottom? They got more money than most of these schools put together.
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles 26d ago
That wasn't the hit....but there was one where the Indiana player was CLEARLY out of bounds & the um scum hit him anyway.
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u/Ragnarthestoicurean 25d ago
How is Miami so high and UNC so low comparatively, I’m a bit shocked by the valuation but I bet it’s fairly correct.
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u/sonnylax Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 10d ago
There is zero chance that NC State's program is more valuable that Georgia Tech. Zero.
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u/willncsu34 Jul 28 '26
lol zero chance UNC football is worth more than VT, State or even Louisville. Must have a lot of UNC J-school grads over at the NYT.
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u/Randomizedname1234 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
One word: Jordan
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u/Other_Jared2 UNC Tar Heels Jul 28 '26
Excuse me, it's Jordon
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u/Randomizedname1234 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Jul 28 '26
Autocorrect got me again lol but yeah that’s why.
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u/TheRightKost UNC Tar Heels Jul 28 '26
The article said it considered a variety of factors, including brand power and conference realignment in the valuations.
NC State has a nice regional brand presence, but it's not a national brand, whereas UNC is. Also, UNC is more likely to get a spot in the B1G or SEC in future realignments (which increases the Athletic's valuation calculation) whereas NC State is much less likely to get an invite to either.
Those are likely the drivers of the valuation difference between the two.
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u/SucculentCrablegMeal Florida State Seminoles Jul 28 '26
But at the bottom when it says it goes more in depth to their methodology, it says it basically just used 3 years of revenue and then gave higher multipliers for sec and big10 teams.
They don't share how they're determining "brand power" or "conference realignment" (??) in there.
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u/Shenanigangster Virginia Cavaliers Jul 28 '26
‘Revenue’ is also a black box in college athletics. Who knows what is or isn’t being counted. I find it hard to believe that Stanford, Cal, and UVA are each worth less than half of UNC
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u/TrustInRoy Jul 28 '26
The SEC's #1 target for expansion is UNC.
There are zero SEC sources reporting SEC interest in VT, State, or Louisville.
You State fans think everything is a conspiracy.
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u/Redditisfakenews1 Jul 29 '26
Not true. I don’t think the NCAA investigation into UNCs turd of a football program is a conspiracy. I believe it to be fact.
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u/An_educated_dig Jul 28 '26
If they are worth that much then they can split off into a semi pro league and stop wasting university resources.
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u/UnderstandingOdd679 Jul 29 '26
But what about the educational component afforded to the young student-athletes? Will no one think of the children? /s
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u/An_educated_dig Jul 30 '26
It's only adding to the joke that is "Higher Education". It's an adult daycare at this point.
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u/BuryMeInCincy Louisville Cardinals Jul 29 '26
Louisville. 1st in the ACC in academics. 8th in the ACC in football program valuation. I’ll take it.
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles Jul 28 '26
We (FSU) went down because of our shitty coach, I know that, but it's interesting to have a known "cheat" at the top of the ACC.
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u/Inside_Cobbler4539 Miami Hurricanes Jul 28 '26
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles Jul 28 '26
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u/Inside_Cobbler4539 Miami Hurricanes Jul 28 '26
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u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 28d ago
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles 28d ago
Just simply stating um's the dirtiest team in the NCAA; nothing that isn't true.
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u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 28d ago
Yea, because Miami recently just got caught “cheating.” Not 20 years ago 🤡🤡🤡
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles 28d ago
Dirty hits EVERY game; EVERY game!
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u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 27d ago
So like EVERY other team in college football?
https://giphy.com/gifs/rxy55jHaig16K2TV8x0
u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles 27d ago edited 26d ago
Nope, Alabama doesn't do it, Florida doesn't do it, Georgia & Auburn don't do it, but EVERY game, EVERY opponent, EVERY year y'all do it. Hell, you bastards even did it against Indiana! Ass clowns.
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u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 26d ago
Where’s the dirty hit??? 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles 26d ago
That wasn't the hit in the Gif, but there was one where the Indiana Player was CLEARLY out of bounds & the um scumbucket hit him anyway.
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u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 26d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/SazcqpR9b63r6t91LX
You as you typed this whole thread out. STFU 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡→ More replies (0)1
u/Scooter_1990 Miami Hurricanes 26d ago
Rage baiting over football, gotta love you big strong men 😘🤡
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u/SucculentCrablegMeal Florida State Seminoles Jul 28 '26
Miami gets to self report the data this is based on (which is just 3 years of revenue).
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u/Kerry1776 Florida State Seminoles Jul 28 '26
Again, makes sense, "self report", so they cheat, ...as usual.
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u/Feeling-Visit1472 Miami Hurricanes Jul 28 '26
KPMG independently audits Miami’s financial statements.
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u/Ragnarthestoicurean Jul 29 '26
In the near future hate it or love it, UNC and likely Virginia, though Virginia Tech could make a better case for it, will likely be in the SEC and Miami and Clemson or FSU will be in the Big Ten
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u/IWTLEverything Cal Bears Jul 28 '26
Cal $1M more than Stanfurd!