A New Benchmark for Conference Spending
In 2025 the American Conference introduced a minimum spending threshold that obligates each member to allocate at least $10 million over a three‑year period toward revenue sharing. The policy was designed to ensure a baseline of financial commitment across the league and has already been satisfied by institutions such as Memphis, which exceeded the requirement in a single season.
Despite the new fiscal floor, the conference’s basketball profile has struggled to keep pace with its football achievements. Over the past two seasons the league has produced only a single bid to the NCAA Men’s Tournament, underscoring a competitive imbalance that the leadership is eager to address.
Strategic Moves to Revitalize Basketball
Commissioner Pernetti has responded by enlisting former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese as an advisor and by establishing a dedicated basketball working group. Their mandate includes re‑examining scheduling models and directing additional investment toward the sport.
Conversations are now underway to raise the overall minimum investment and to craft sport‑specific thresholds, particularly for basketball, as the conference looks to leverage financial resources to improve on‑court outcomes.