Dale Earnhardt Jr. has stepped into the debate surrounding Miami’s $20 million College Football Playoff (CFP) payout, offering a strong defense as controversy grows over the Hurricanes’ windfall. The conversation erupted after Miami secured a spot in the CFP National Championship Game, with the ACC’s distribution rules allowing the school to keep the entirety of the postseason payout—a marked difference from other major conferences.
Miami’s CFP Triumph Sparks Heated Debate
The Miami Hurricanes’ advance to the championship game has resulted in a significant financial reward under the Atlantic Coast Conference‘s revenue guidelines. Unlike the Big Ten and Big 12, which share playoff earnings among all member schools, the ACC’s system enables the victorious team to hold onto nearly all of the generated revenues. As a result, Miami is set to collect $20 million for their on-field achievement, with an added $3 million as a travel stipend since the championship takes place in their home city, bringing their total to $23 million.
Fans, college football commentators, and media voices quickly weighed in on what some view as a lopsided reward structure. Concerns rose sharply over how Miami could leverage this earnings boost, potentially widening the competitive gap between themselves and fellow ACC programs—which, under the current setup, receive no direct share from the Hurricanes’ success. The situation stood in stark contrast to the revenue-sharing philosophy upheld in other Power Five conferences and fueled strong reactions across social media.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Responds to Criticism Over ACC Policy
Among those joining the conversation was Travis Rockhold, a producer at Dirty Mo Media and Ohio State Buckeyes supporter. He publicly criticized the ACC’s decision on social media:
“ACC screwed up massively. How soon till Miami uses this money to buy more players? Massive win for them on and off the field.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of Dirty Mo Media and a known college football enthusiast, quickly pushed back against these criticisms with a pointed response:
“So an ACC team winning and winning more is bad for the ACC? 😂” — Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Dirty Mo Media co-owner
The public conversation between Earnhardt Jr. and Rockhold continued, highlighting the ongoing conflict between equitable distribution and rewarding individual program success. Rockhold argued that the policy not only disadvantages the rest of the conference but could also lead to an even greater performance divide in the ACC:
“Great for them. Bad for the conference. Teams that could use some money get nothing. Miami makes a run next year and now they have a lot of money to spend and create more separation. Conferences don’t want just one good team,” he wrote.
Earnhardt Jr. remained steadfast, questioning the assumption that other conference models were inherently better:
“It’s not how OSU does it so it must be bad 😂,” Dale added.
This spirited exchange captured the broader debate underway: whether a system that rewards success at the expense of parity serves the best interests of a conference and its members—or pushes leagues toward even more uneven competition. As Miami prepares to face Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 19, all eyes will be on whether their unprecedented reward translates into long-term program advantages or prompts changes in the ACC’s future policies.
Miami and Indiana Face Off for College Football’s Top Prize
The highly anticipated championship clash has the Hurricanes striving for their first national crown in over two decades. Meanwhile, the Indiana Hoosiers hope to cap off a remarkable, unbeaten season with a storybook victory. Miami’s financial haul, made possible by the ACC’s payout structure, and Indiana’s quest for glory both add layers of intrigue as kickoff approaches.
Earnhardt Jr. Brings New Incentives to CARS Tour Teams
In addition to his involvement in college football debates, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to make an impact in motorsports. As co-owner of the zMAX CARS Tour, he recently revealed a new incentive system planned for the 2026 season. In partnership with FloRacing, the series will debut the Flodium bonus, a performance-based payout scheme distributing more than $100,000 among drivers in the Late Model Stock and Pro Late Model categories.
Earnhardt Jr. shared the announcement on X:
“Exciting news for 2026 Cars Tour team owners.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Dirty Mo Media co-owner
The innovative structure divides the racing calendar into three-race stretches. Drivers who achieve a top-three finish in either of the first two legs of each segment become eligible for a $10,000 bonus in the third race. The highest-placed eligible driver in each bonus event receives the reward, with up to six drivers qualifying per segment. Cars aiming for the Flodium bonus will display special decals, and a separate $5,000 reward will go to the competitor with the most bonus event appearances in each division.
This Flodium concept was conceived by Karsyn Elledge, Earnhardt Jr.’s niece and the CARS Tour’s partnerships and marketing manager. Tracks featured in this initiative for 2026 will include Wake County Speedway, Ace Speedway, North Wilkesboro, Florence Motor Speedway, and South Boston Speedway, bringing added excitement—and incentives—across the series. After each three-race unit, the competition resets the bonus contest, giving multiple opportunities for drivers to benefit.
What the Payout Debate Means for College Football and Beyond
The ACC’s approach to postseason rewards, starkly highlighted by Miami’s playoff windfall, prompts renewed scrutiny over how success and funding are distributed in college athletics. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s outspokenness has brought mainstream attention to a conflict that could shape conference strategies moving forward, especially as comparisons to systems in the Big Ten and Big 12 persist.
Meanwhile, Earnhardt Jr.’s forward-thinking initiatives in motorsports show his commitment to championing fair competition and rewarding success in varied arenas. As the CFP title game approaches, and the CARS Tour prepares for innovative changes, a common thread remains: how organizations choose to support both elite achievements and overall parity continues to fuel passionate debate and future decisions.
ACC screwed up massively. How soon till Miami uses this money to buy more players. Massive win for them on and off the field https://t.co/XpFh6dz9St
— Travis Rockhold (@TravisRockhold) January 9, 2026
It's not how OSU does it so it must be bad 😂
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 11, 2026
Exciting news for 2026 Cars Tour team owners. https://t.co/NoKROvd7F5
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 10, 2026
