NC State Football

$20M Question: How Should NC State Split Its Revenue Share?

In this episode, Jake McSwain and James Henderson step into Boo Corrigan’s shoes to explore how the Wolfpack could spend the full revenue share to stay competitive in multiple sports, including football and men's basketball.
July 1, 2025
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Main Topic: July 1 marks the start of athlete revenue sharing — NC State has ~$20.1M to allocate. James and Jake play AD and map out how the Pack should spend it.

Football and Men's Basketball Get Priority

  • Both hosts agree these two sports are "table stakes."
  • Football will still receive the lion’s share, but NC State shouldn't blindly follow SEC-style splits.
  • Jake argues basketball deserves more investment than usual due to its higher ROI on individual stars and a clearer path to postseason success.

Jake’s Proposed Split:

  • Football: 60–65% of total budget ($11–12M)
  • Basketball: 20–25% ($4M)
  • Rationale: One elite basketball player (e.g., Darrion Williams) can change the program. Football success is harder to guarantee even with heavy NIL spending.

Scholarship Cap and Baseball Considerations

  • Up to $2.5M of the $20.1M may go toward full scholarships (e.g., baseball can now fully fund 34 players).
  • This changes how “compensation” is structured — some sports may get most of their share in the form of scholarships.

Programs Worth Investing In Beyond the Big Two

  • Baseball: Local following and national competitiveness make it a worthy investment.
  • Women’s Basketball: Strong growth nationally and program success under Wes Moore.
  • Wrestling: Popular with fans, successful under Popolizio, could benefit from modest support.

Strategic Flexibility is Key

  • The model can (and should) change year-to-year based on roster needs.
  • If Will Wade locks in his core, next year’s focus could shift to another sport.
  • Schools like Texas Tech are already experimenting — NC State needs to stay adaptive.

Final Takeaway:

Don’t treat this like a one-size-fits-all football budget. Basketball deserves real investment, and NC State's tradition gives it a shot to compete nationally — but only if resources match ambition.

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