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

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.