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WNBA playoff seeding: Valkyries fall, Aces rise in standings

The final day of the 2025 WNBA regular season mimicked a game of musical chairs.

The Golden State Valkyries controlled their own destiny, needing a win over the No. 1 overall seed Minnesota Lynx to lock in the No. 7 seed. The Valkyries weren’t up to the challenge, suffering a 72-53 loss at Target Center to end the season on a three-game skid. With the loss, the Valkyries drop to the No. 8 seed and, to add insult to injury, set up a first-round matchup against the Lynx, who they lost to four times in the regular season.

The Las Vegas Aces also held their future in their hands. With their win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday, which marks their 16th consecutive win of the season, the Aces moved up to the No. 2 seed to face the No. 7 Seattle Storm in the first-round. The Aces are 2-2 against the Storm.

Here’s how the standings shake out after those key matchups:

WNBA first-round matchups bracket

  • No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Golden State Valkyries
  • No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 7 Seattle Storm
  • No. 3 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
  • No. 4 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 New York Liberty

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This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Food truck catches fire, fills ACC stadium with smoke

For fans tuned in to the Thursday night college football matchup between Wake Forest and NC State, no, that’s not fog overtaking the stadium.

That would be smoke from a food truck, as Choc’s Barbecue Co. and Southern Catering caught on fire just outside Allegacy Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sept. 11. ESPN’s broadcast even gave viewers a close-up view of the fire, showing a person attempting to extinguish it while inside the truck.

Thankfully, the fire doesn’t appear to be a serious danger to anyone in attendance at the game.

The fire broke out late in the first quarter just before North Carolina State scored its first touchdown of the game on a 5-yard pass from CJ Bailey to Justin Joly. There has already been plenty of offense, with Wake Forest leading 24-17 at halftime.

There has been a little bit of everything in Wake Forest-North Carolina State, a matchup between two teams expected to finish near the bottom of the ACC in 2025. The game opened with a 98-yard kick return by Wake Forest’s Chris Barnes. Barnes then set up a touchdown on the Demon Deacons’ first drive after a 70-yard catch.

Wake Forest also has four passes of over 25 yards or more already, as quarterback Robby Ashford is 13 of 16 passing for 204 yards, although he has thrown an interception.

The ACC matchup has certainly been interesting, and kicks off Week 3 by keeping college football fans on their toes, as always.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Newmont to Exit Toronto Stock Exchange as Cost Cuts Deepen

Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) is preparing to withdraw from the Toronto Stock Exchange later this month, the latest in a string of moves to streamline operations and rein in costs following its US$15 billion takeover of Newcrest Mining in 2023.

The Denver-based miner said Wednesday it has applied for a voluntary delisting of its common shares from the TSX, effective at the close of trading on September 24.

The company cited “low trading volumes” on the Canadian exchange and said the decision is expected to “improve administrative efficiency and reduce costs for the benefit of Newmont’s shareholders.”

Newmont’s shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, where it maintains its primary listing, as well as on the Australian Securities Exchange and the Papua New Guinea Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NEM.

Rising costs and restructuring plans

Newmont’s all-in sustaining costs reached record levels earlier this year, eroding profits even as bullion prices hit all-time highs above US$3,500 an ounce in April and remained above US$3,300 through most of the summer.

The company has acknowledged that its cost base has outpaced peers. In the second quarter, Newmont’s costs were nearly 25 percent higher than those of Agnico Eagle Mines, a Canadian rival considered one of the industry’s leanest producers.

Costs have also risen more than 50 percent over the past five years, driven by higher energy, labor, and material prices, as well as integration expenses tied to Newcrest’s operations.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Palmer told investors in July that Newmont was pursuing additional measures to lower its expenses.

Behind the scenes, Newmont has been preparing for more aggressive measures.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News that management has set an internal target to lower costs by as much as US$300 per ounce, or roughly 20 percent.

Meeting that benchmark could require thousands of layoffs across the company’s global workforce of about 22,000, excluding contractors.

While Newmont has not disclosed the scope of planned reductions, some employees have already been informed of redundancies, according to the report. Managers have also been briefed on potential curbs to long-term incentive programs as part of a broader restructuring.

A company spokesperson confirmed earlier this year that Newmont launched a cost and productivity improvement program in February.

Alongside cost cutting, Newmont has moved swiftly to divest non-core assets acquired in the Newcrest deal.

Since late 2024, the company has sold multiple Canadian operations: the Eleonore mine for about US$795 million, the Musselwhite mine in Ontario for $850 million, and its stake in the Porcupine operations for US$425 million.

The asset sales are intended not only to cut debt but also to sharpen focus on higher-margin operations, particularly in North America and Australia.

Despite higher costs, Newmont shares have surged 95 percent this year, followed by also announcing a US$3 billion share repurchase program in July.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Commanders DE carted off, ruled out of TNF

The host Green Bay Packers scored a second touchdown on a two-yard run by Josh Jacobs. Brandon McManus nailed the extra point to give the team a 14-0 lead over the Washington Commanders.

The game stopped after the play, though, as Washington defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. went down with an injury. His leg appeared to get rolled up on during the extra point attempt.

Washington’s bench cleared as all of the active players went on the field to check in on Wise.

Washington ruled him out of the rest of tonight’s game with a quad injury, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Washington signed Wise in free agency this offseason. The New England Patriots selected him in the fourth round, No. 131 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in his second season with the team and played a total of eight years with New England.

The 31-year-old defensive end has 34.0 career stats and was expected to take on a starting role for the third season in his career.

This file will be updated when more information is available.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Canada’s First Set of Nation-Building Projects Paves Way for Mining, Energy Operations

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the country’s first five nation-building projects.

In March and April, the Build Canada Strong platform was a cornerstone of Carney’s election campaign, which came amid increasing trade tensions between Canada and the US. Among his promises was to create a Major Projects Office (MPO) that would review projects deemed to be in the national interest.

That office was established over the summer, with a release saying it would be headquartered in Calgary and overseen by former TransAlta (TSX:TA,NYSE:TSE) and Trans Mountain CEO Dawn Farrell.

The MPO was created as part of a shift in the regulatory framework for approving infrastructure and resource projects in Canada. Part of that will involve streamlining reviews and assessments, as well as reducing duplication between the federal and provincial governments, an issue that has hindered investment in Canada over the last 20 years.

“One of many studies has shown that the regulatory requirements in Canada have increased by more than 40 percent since 2006 and that’s been suppressing investment growth by 9 percent,” Carney said on Thursday (September 11).

In his statement, the prime minister introduced the first tranche of projects, and suggested the second will be announced before the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup match, scheduled for November 16.

He also outlined criteria for projects to be covered by the MPO. They must be in the national interest, and must strengthen Canada’s autonomy, resilience and security; they must also have clear benefits for Canadians.

The first group of projects selected by the MPO has already seen significant development.

The prime minister noted that they have already been through extensive consultation with Indigenous communities, and have worked with provincial and territorial governments to meet necessary regulatory standards.

For these, Carney said the goal is for the MPO to get them across the finish line.

“In some cases, they are in the last stages of regulatory approvals. In most cases, there is some aspect of the financing or support packages for the projects that remain to be determined,” he said.

Mining, energy projects highlighted in first tranche

Among the first five projects featured are three involving Canada’s mining and energy sectors:

        Additionally, the MPO has committed to supporting the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington, Ontario. This project aims to develop the first small modular reactor in a G7 country.

        The MPO will also help speed up the expansion of the Contrecour Terminal container project at the Port of Montreal. This expansion is expected to boost shipping volumes along the St. Lawrence Seaway.

        A project that could be included in a future announcement is the Pathways Plus carbon capture project, which the prime minister said will eventually lead to further oil sands development and the construction of a pipeline to reach markets beyond the US. Additionally, Carney said the MPO is looking at upgrades to the Port of Churchill, as well as an Arctic economic and security corridor, a high-speed rail corridor between Toronto and Québec City and Wind West Atlantic Energy, which would provide wind power to the provinces on the Atlantic coast.

        Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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        Altech Batteries LtdCERENERGY Battery Prototype Reaches Key Milestones

        Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) (OTCMKTS:ALTHF) is pleased to announce the latest performance results of the CERENERGY(R) cell and battery pack prototypes. These results confirm the technological maturity and robustness of the CERENERGY(R) technology and mark another decisive step towards industrialisation.

        Highlights

        – 650+ cycles with no capacity loss, proving exceptional material stability and long operational lifespan compared to conventional batteries

        – Near 100% Coulombic efficiency, confirming minimal side reactions and strong intrinsic safety of sodium nickel chloride chemistry

        – High energy efficiency of up to 92%, surpassing typical 70-80% levels of competing battery technologies

        – Proven safety under extreme conditions – cells remained stable during overcharge, deep discharge, and thermal cycling up to 300 degC with no gassing, leakage, or rupture

        – Robust and reliable chemistry – sodium nickel chloride avoids flammable electrolytes and runaway risks, confirming suitability for safe, large-scale grid and renewable energy storage

        – ABS60 prototype validated under real-world conditions -tested across diverse load profiles, high-current pulses up to 50 A, and thermal variations

        – Stable, efficient performance – achieved ~88% round-trip efficiency with no observable capacity fade over 110+ cycles

        CELL PERFORMANCE

        The CERENERGY(R) prototype cells have successfully completed over 650 charge-discharge cycles without any detectable capacity loss. Cycle life is a critical measure of battery durability, as most conventional batteries experience gradual degradation with every cycle. Achieving such performance highlights the outstanding stability of the materials and points to the potential for a long operational lifespan.

        For stationary energy storage systems (ESS), this translates into fewer battery replacements, lower lifetime operating costs, and greater reliability for end users.

        The cells also delivered nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency alongside an energy efficiency of up to 92% across 650 cycles. Coulombic efficiency reflects the proportion of charge recovered during discharge relative to what was supplied during charging. A value approaching 100% indicates minimal side reactions or parasitic losses, confirming the intrinsic stability and safety of sodium nickel chloride chemistry. This high efficiency demonstrates that the cells are not expending energy on unwanted processes such as electrode degradation. Such performance is vital for scalability, ensuring reliable, longterm operation in commercial energy storage applications.

        Energy efficiency represents the proportion of energy delivered relative to the energy supplied. Competing technologies, including conventional high-temperature batteries and many flow batteries, typically achieve only around 70-80%. By reaching 92%, CERENERGY(R) positions itself in a highly competitive class, offering more cost-effective energy storage, stronger economics for grid operators, and seamless compatibility with the requirements of renewable energy integration.

        The cells achieved a nominal capacity of 100 Ah and 250 Wh, with reliable performance even at higher discharge rates. A key feature is their ability to support multiple daily charge-discharge cycles within the 20-80% state of charge (SoC) range at 25 A. This capability positions CERENERGY(R) as a highly flexible solution for grid operators and energy storage providers, enabling cost-efficient, long-life performance in applications that demand frequent cycling such as renewable integration, peak shaving, and backup power.

        CERENERGY(R) prototype cells underwent rigorous abuse testing, including overcharge to 4 V, deep discharge to 0.2 V, and thermal cycling between room temperature and 300 degC. In all cases, the cells remained stable with no gassing, leakage, or rupture -clear proof of their outstanding safety. These results highlight the intrinsic stability of sodium nickel chloride chemistry, which avoids the flammable electrolytes and runaway risks common in lithium-ion batteries. The ability to withstand extreme electrical and thermal stress demonstrates CERENERGY(R)’s robustness and confirms its suitability for safe, largescale deployment in grid, renewable, and industrial energy storage applications. This was achieved over 3 cycles with 1.8 Full Charge Equivalent (FCE) into 22 hours.

        BATTERY PACK ABS60 (60 kWh) PROTOTYPE

        The first ABS60 battery pack prototype has been successfully validated under real-world operating conditions, marking a major step forward in product readiness. Testing included diverse load profiles,

        continuous discharges at 25 A (equivalent to C-rate of C/4 (discharges in 4 hours), or one-quarter of the pack’s rated capacity per hour) at 80% depth of discharge (DoD), short-duration high-current pulses up to 50 A, and carefully controlled thermal variations.

        The pack consistently demonstrated stable performance, achieving ~88% round-trip efficiency while maintaining reliable thermal management. Efficiency refers to the proportion of input energy that can be retrieved during operation-a critical measure of economic viability for large-scale storage. Over more than 110 cycles, results showed no observable capacity fading and only a slight increase in internal resistance. Capacity fading refers to the gradual decline in usable energy over repeated cycles, while internal resistance influences power delivery and heat generation.

        The absence of meaningful degradation confirms the durability and electrochemical stability of the ABS60 design. These outcomes are highly significant as they demonstrate that the pack can withstand real-world duty cycles while retaining performance and efficiency, translating into longer service life, fewer replacements, and lower total cost of ownership.

        For grid operators and renewable integration projects, this combination of robust cycling capability, efficiency, and thermal stability underscores the ABS60’s commercial readiness and competitive advantage in the stationary energy storage market.

        These results are a strong confirmation of CERENERGY(R)’s technological leadership and a clear signal of the technology’s competitiveness and robustness for future applications in energy storage and industrial markets.

        Group Managing Director, Iggy Tan said ‘These results confirm CERENERGY(R)’s robustness and readiness for market adoption. Demonstrating long cycle life, high efficiency, and unmatched safety, we are now strongly positioned to deliver a competitive and sustainable alternative for grid and industrial energy storage.’

        *To view photographs, tables and figures, please visit:
        https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/17QS44T3

        About Altech Batteries Ltd:

        Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.

        The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.

        Source:
        Altech Batteries Ltd

        Contact:
        Corporate
        Iggy Tan
        Managing Director
        Altech Batteries Limited
        Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
        Email: info@altechgroup.com

        Martin Stein
        Chief Financial Officer
        Altech Batteries Limited
        Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
        Email: info@altechgroup.com

        News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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        Trump administration ramps up pressure on Labor Department with data probe

        The Labor Department has announced an inquiry into the Bureau of Labor Statistics over recent changes to its data practices.

        In a letter published Wednesday, the office of the inspector general for the Labor Department cited the BLS’ recent decision to reduce data collection activities for two key inflation reports, as well as the large downward revision in employment estimates it announced Tuesday. It said it is reviewing the ‘challenges’ the agency has faced ‘in collecting and reporting closely watched economic data.’

        The probe comes one month after President Donald Trump fired the head of the BLS as part of a broader pressure campaign that critics say has risked politicizing a part of the government that has long played a crucial role in the business world. The BLS, which is tasked with collecting data on economic indicators such as jobs and inflation, had generally been left alone by previous administrations.

        But Trump began zeroing in on the BLS as his frustrations with the Federal Reserve mounted, coinciding with economic numbers that started to warn about a broader U.S. slowdown.

        Since then, the labor market has slowed considerably. Just before the head of the BLS was fired, the department released a weaker-than-expected jobs report, citing claims of data manipulation that critics say are unfounded.

        Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, another frequent target of Trump’s, has said Fed policymakers are ‘getting the data that we need to do our jobs’ and stressed the importance of the federal statistical agencies.

        ‘The government data is really the gold standard in data,’ he added. ‘We need it to be good and to be able to rely on it.’

        Trump then nominated E.J. Antoni, an economist with the far-right Heritage Foundation, as the new head of the BLS, a move many economists have criticized.

        Trump and other BLS critics have focused on the department’s revisions to its reports, a practice that dates back decades and has been generally seen as a necessary part of the challenge of collecting near-term economic data. It has also faced other challenges in data collection, including budget challenges and low response rates to its collection efforts.

        The BLS previously said the decision to reduce inflation data surveys was necessary given existing budget constraints. Meanwhile, mainstream economists say the latest downward revisions — while large — are part of a routine annual process known as benchmarking.

        While response rates to the bureau’s surveys have been declining, researchers recently found that revisions and falling response rates did not reduce the reliability of the jobs and inflation reports.

        This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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        WPIC: Platinum to Hit Third Annual Deficit as Supply Fails to Meet Demand

        Platinum is heading for a third consecutive annual deficit in 2025, with the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) projecting an 850,000 ounce shortfall as demand continues to outpace weak mine supply.

        In its latest Platinum Quarterly, the WPIC states that despite a 22 percent year-on-year decline in demand, a lack of metal is expected to create a supply shortfall that’s only 13 percent lower than 2024’s 968,000 ounce shortfall.

        Its call comes amid a price breakout for platinum, which pushed past US$1,450 per ounce in July.

        Why is the platinum market in deficit?

        The biggest challenge for platinum has been weak refined production, which slipped to 1.45 million ounces during the quarter from 1.54 million ounces produced during the same time last year.

        This has led the WPIC to predict a 6 percent decrease in primary supply to 5.43 million ounces, down from the 5.76 million ounces produced in 2024. Output declines in top producer South Africa have had outsized effects on supply, as Q1 output came in at just 713,000 ounces, as heavy rainfalls negatively impacted production.

        Although output grew to 1.05 million ounces in the second quarter, it was still 8 percent lower than in Q2 2024.

        Additional decreases to output are also expected in Zimbabwe and North America, slipping 4 percent and 26 percent, respectively. However, Russia is set to see a 1 percent rise in output, increasing to 686,000 ounces from 677,000 in 2024.

        On a more positive note, recycling supply saw an increase to 423,000 ounces during Q2 from 379,000 reported in 2024. This has led the WPIC to predict a 6 percent annual increase to 1.6 million ounces from 1.52 million last year.

        The majority of this increase comes from growth in automotive recycling, aided by higher platinum group basket prices. However, the WPIC notes that despite the growth, recycling will remain depressed compared to historic levels.

        The WPIC predicts an overall supply decrease of 3 percent in 2025 to 7.03 million ounces, from 7.28 million ounces in 2024. With three years of deficits, the group is also expecting further drawdowns of above-ground stocks with a 22 percent decrease to 2.98 million ounces, representing four and a half months of demand coverage.

        In recent years, stockpiles have fallen from 5.51 million ounces in 2022 to 4.8 million ounces in 2023 and 3.83 million ounces in 2024.

        “I don’t think we’re going to see any meaningful mine supply response at these levels. It’s also worth bearing in mind that these are, for the most part, deep-level underground mines. So even if we had another 50 percent increase in the basket price, you’re still not going to see a supply response over the near to medium term,” he said.

        Watch Sterck discuss the platinum market.

        He went on to explain that development times for mining operations will take several years and wouldn’t be possible on time frames shorter than 18 months.

        “Recycling is definitely much more price elastic than mine supply over the near to medium term,” Sterck said.

        However, he added that while people tend to scrap vehicles at a consistent rate, the pace and overall supply entering the market from the auto sector is constrained.

        “Yes, we’ve seen quite a big increase in the platinum price year to date, but it’s not the main driver of the economics for those scrap aggregators and recyclers. It’s really more of a palladium story, even more so than rhodium. So, you need a sustained increase in palladium prices to drive a meaningful change there,” Sterck said.

        Demand to weaken in 2025, jewelry a bright spot

        Despite the expected deficit, the WPIC expects demand to weaken this year.

        Q2 saw automotive demand fall to 769,000 ounces, down from 788,000 ounces in the year-ago period.

        The WPIC’s expectation is that the auto sector will require 3.03 million ounces of platinum in 2025, a 3 percent decrease from the 3.11 million ounces needed in 2024. Likewise, the council is expecting a decrease in industrial demand for the metal as consumption drops off by 22 percent to 1.9 million, down from 2.42 million ounces last year.

        Jewelry demand, however, has been on the rise, with the expectation that it will increase by 11 percent to 2.23 million ounces in 2025. The WPIC suggests the higher growth is owed to its discount relative to gold, and notes that it is seeing the most substantial increase in China — fabrication is seen growing 42 percent in 2025 to 585,000 ounces.

        “What’s driving that increase has been fabrication funded by wholesalers, and they’re promoting platinum because they’ve seen a huge drop in their gold jewelry sales,” Sterck explained.

        Despite an increase in holdings of bars, coins and exchange-traded funds, overall investment demand was dragged down in Q2 by a 317,000 ounce decrease in stocks held in exchanges due to tariff-related concerns.

        Sterck said ongoing uncertainty in the platinum market earlier this year caused physical metal to shift from overseas markets into the US as traders began to worry about tariffs being applied.

        Although movement reversed as traders were told tariffs wouldn’t be applied, fears were later stoked when copper tariffs were announced, and an “ideological disconnect” between the White House and South Africa emerged.

        “Given that the current US administration has shown that it is willing to use tariffs as a kind of stick, if you like, for enacting foreign policy, you kind of come back to this sort of whole situation where there’s a non-zero chance of platinum being subject to tariffs in the US,” Sterck commented during the conversation.

        Overall, the WPIC expects total platinum demand to drop by 4 percent year-on-year in 2025 to 7.88 million ounces.

        Will the platinum price rise further in 2025?

        Fundamentals should remain the primary driver for platinum. Despite weakening demand through the first half of 2025, a structural deficit in the market still exists due to a lack of supply to close the gap.

        However, Sterck suggested the mining supply is likely to increase before the end of the year.

        “This year was particularly accentuated by flooding in South Africa during the first quarter of the year, so we do expect a bit of an increase in mining supply,” he said. However, he also noted that until there are more significant changes to the amount of supply, the price conditions aren’t likely to change much.

        “Fundamentally, at the moment, it just appears that the platinum price at current levels isn’t sufficient to attract enough metal into the market to really ease those market conditions,” Sterck noted.

        Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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        Ohio State president expects ‘conversation’ on Big Ten revenue sharing

        • Ohio State University President Ted Carter expects conversation about the Big Ten’s revenue-sharing model.
        • Carter highlighted Ohio State’s significant brand value, citing high TV viewership for its football games.
        • Future financial self-sufficiency could be challenged by rising costs related to athlete compensation for name, image, and likeness (NIL).

        WASHINGTON — Ohio State University President Ted Carter left open the possibility of changes to Big Ten Conference schools’ revenue-sharing arrangements and his own institution’s approach to how its athletics department is funded.

        During a Tuesday, Sept. 9 interview with USA TODAY that also covered an array of Ohio State-specific and national higher-education topics, Carter addressed questions about two longstanding features of the school’s sports financial picture: Roughly equal sharing of Big Ten revenue among the conference’s longest-standing members and zero dollars in university or student-fee money being used to support the athletics department.

        Ohio State is one of the biggest brand names in college sports. Its department supports 35 NCAA teams, making it one of the most broad-based programs at a Bowl Subdivision public school. And it has averaged more than $262 million in operating revenues and expenses over the three most recent fiscal years for which USA TODAY has been able to obtain data in conjunction with the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database at Syracuse University – 2022 through 2024.

        Carter said during the interview that Ohio State had around $325 million in athletics revenue for the 2024-25 fiscal year and that the department operated at a surplus.

        In the context of Clemson’s and Florida State’s recent disputes with the Atlantic Coast Conference that has resulted in the ACC adopting an unbalanced revenue-sharing model, Carter was asked whether he foresaw that happening in the Big Ten, given the television draws of Ohio State and Michigan.

        “I don’t want to get into the type of conversations that are happening inside the Big Ten,” said Carter, who began at Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2024, after four years as president of the University of Nebraska System. “I would just tell you that we’re a proud member of the Big Ten, and that’s where we’re going to stay. We have … our own bylaws for how we do the distributions. When new members join the conference, they don’t always come in at the same share, as you know. So … that’s the way our media rights deals are set up. That’s how we’re set up for now.”

        Carter was then asked what he thinks about where this goes four to five years from now, as conferences’ current, respective, television contracts begin winding down.

        “We don’t have any answers,” he replied. “I will say that there’s only a couple of schools that really represent the biggest brands in the Big Ten, and you can see that by the TV viewership. I mean, look what we just went through with the Texas game (Ohio State’s football season opener). … You know, 16.(6) million people watching that game over the whole game. And it peaked at 18.6 million. It’s the most watched opening game in history, third-largest game ever watched in a regular season (on Fox). So, that’s what happens when you put the Ohio State brand out there.”

        Asked whether that should translate into something different in terms of revenue share, Carter said:

        “It doesn’t matter what Ted Carter thinks. I think that’s going to be a conversation that will be had over time.”

        Carter said Ohio State is “committed to maintaining” its current number of sports and has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at increasing revenue. Those range from the creation of a members-only club at Ohio Stadium that is scheduled be open on non-game days, to new luxury suite and seating areas in the stadium, to greater effort to book other events at university facilities.

        All of this aimed at allowing Ohio State to continue being among a small group of Division I public schools nationally whose athletics department annually reports netting $0 in revenue from school or government sources or student fees. Ohio State’s athletics department also annually reports transfers of money, beyond operating expenses, to the university’s general fund.

        Asked whether the athletics department will be able to continue working in that fashion, Carter said: “I think that will depend on the types of rules that have to be set up for NIL and shared revenue (with athletes from the school for the use of their name, image and likeness). I mean, that’s one of the reasons we want to see those things get a little bit more under control. If those costs continue to go up, then there’s risk to those types of things (the department remaining financially self-sufficient. And so that’s something obviously we’re paying attention to.”

        The goal, he said, is for the department to remain self-sufficient.

        ‘At some point there’s only so many things you can do to generate additional revenue,” he said. “… So, again you’ve got to be able to think a little bit differently. I mean, we’re the top-selling brand for apparel. We’re a proud member of using Nike. That’s a relationship that really matters to us. And, so, again, you’ve got to look at everything that can help generate revenue. And we’re still looking at other ways to help offset these costs.”

        This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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