Report: North Carolina exploring NIL power move from ACC to SEC originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The college sports landscape may be on the brink of another seismic shift, as reports suggest that the University of North Carolina is exploring the possibility of leaving the ACC for the SEC.
Advertisement
According to Inside Carolina, UNC could be among the schools at the forefront of realignment, with the SEC being the likely target destination, if the Tar Heels ultimately decide to part ways with the ACC. The report indicates that UNC, alongside Clemson, is “interested in seeking a potential departure from the ACC” whenever the next major wave of realignment begins. Financial considerations are a driving factor in these discussions.
The ACC’s exit fees, which currently stand at $165 million, will steadily decrease over the next decade. By the 2029–30 academic year, the cost to leave the conference will fall to $93 million, and then to $75 million in 2030–31, according to reports. These penalties could become a critical turning point for any member school contemplating any move to another conference.
Inside Carolina suggests that UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts has been an active behind-the-scenes player in shaping the ACC’s future. This has come particularly through his involvement in negotiations surrounding the conference’s settlement with Clemson and Florida State.
Advertisement
Both schools filed lawsuits last year challenging the ACC’s exit fees and revenue distribution structure, which is a battle that ultimately resulted in a settlement. However, the decreasing financial barrier could accelerate talks for schools like UNC that are eyeing more lucrative television contracts and broader exposure.
The SEC has established itself as the king of college athletics and would represent a great landing spot for any school with the athletic tradition and national branding power of North Carolina. It also pushes the Jordan Brand to the SEC, which could push for more exposure.
Advertisement
UNC’s interest in exploring new conference affiliations is not new. The Tar Heels were part of the so-called “Magnificent Seven,” a group of ACC schools that, two years ago, quietly pushed back against the league’s revenue-sharing model. That effort blew up the underlying tension between the ACC’s current media rights deal and the larger payouts that programs now in the SEC and Big Ten enjoy.
Timing could be everything for UNC’s next move. The Big Ten’s current media rights deal will expire in 2030, and the SEC’s agreement with ESPN runs through 2034. Both could set the stage for another wave of realignment, especially as schools continue to chase the ever-growing revenue streams generated by college football’s TV rights.
Related: President Trump’s NIL executive order shakes up college sports
Another layer is UNC’s potential transition is the presence of legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick, who is set to debut as the Tar Heels’ head coach this fall. Belichick’s arrival has already boosted the program’s national visibility, with ESPN scheduling a heavy slate of Tar Heels games for its networks. It’s the same blueprint used in Deion Sanders’ transformation of Colorado into a ratings phenomenon. Belichick could help UNC build a national audience, making UNC even more attractive for the SEC.
Advertisement
Related: DJ Lagway shines in T-Mobile NIL deal with Mahomes, Gronk
Whether or not North Carolina makes the leap, the countdown to the next era of college sports realignment has already started. We’ll see what happens in the next few years.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
