Big Ten Athletic Departments: Revelations from Financial Data
The Big Ten Conference, home to some of college football’s most prominent programs, reported a mixed financial picture for the 2024 fiscal year, with revenue exceeding expenses for some schools but leaving others grappling with significant deficits.
Data obtained through state open-records laws reveals that the 16 public universities within the conference collectively generated nearly $2.84 billion in revenue, but spent nearly $3 billion during the year. this data paints a complex landscape, with half of the athletic departments ending the fiscal year with a deficit, impacting several teams heavily. Four of these deficit-ridden departments incurred losses of at least $15 million.
Financial Performance: A tale of Two Trends
While financial struggles persist for some programs, others demonstrate robust financial performance. Athletics departments that reported surpluses during the 2024 fiscal year averaged a profit of $3.72 million each. Nebraska, long recognized for its fiscal prudence, led with a $6.7 million surplus.
Four programs, however, present a concerning trend of sustained financial losses over a five-year period. UCLA, despite joining the Big Ten this year, reported a deficit of nearly $51.9 million, accumulating a total loss of $200.61 million over the past five years. Rutgers and Maryland continue to wrestle with deficits while repaying loans borrowed from the Big Ten between 2014 and 2020. Rutgers’ deficit reached $41.5 million in 2024, totaling over $139 million in losses over the past five years. Maryland, while reporting a near $5 million deficit for 2024, has shown progress in improving its financial situation after borrowing heavily before full membership.
Realigning the future: Ohio state’s Unique Situation
Ohio State University’s athletic department incurred a notable deficit of nearly $38 million in 2024. This deviation from their usual strong performance can be partly attributed to the team playing only six home football games in 2023, coupled with severance pay to former coaches and administrators. Despite this, the department offset the deficit with reserves.The athletic department anticipates a significant boost in incoming revenue from the Big ten media contract in the current fiscal year, along with eight home football games scheduled for 2024-25, suggesting that this deficit is likely a one-time occurrence.
Big Ten Football Finance: Debt, Support, and Rising Recruiting Costs
Athletic departments within the Big Ten conference face significant financial pressures, especially concerning debt, institutional support, and ever-increasing football recruiting expenses.
Six public Big Ten schools have total athletic debts exceeding $225 million, with illinois leading the pack at $312.5 million, followed by Ohio State at $286.7 million. These figures underscore the considerable investments universities make in their athletic programs, often relying on bond sales or loans to finance major projects.
While many Big Ten athletic departments aim for financial independence,several receive direct support from their universities. UCLA notably reports no athletic debt,while Maryland lists $8 million. These institutions frequently enough supplement athletic budgets through student fees and direct university funding. Rutgers, such as, carries $51.4 million in debt but receives over $21 million in student fees and direct institutional support.
Football Recruiting Costs surge
Football recruiting expenses have witnessed a sharp increase. Big Ten schools collectively spent over $30.1 million in the latest fiscal year, a 56% jump from $19.35 million in 2022.
This surge reflects the intensifying competition for top talent. While Iowa remains an outlier with $638,000 in reported expenses, othre institutions have significantly increased their recruiting budgets. Penn State and Washington both reached $2.8 million, while Minnesota and Nebraska saw increases exceeding $1 million each.
the Link Between Coaching Salary and Success
Although specific salary figures may fluctuate, a discernible pattern emerges regarding football coaching salaries and on-field performance.
Big Ten Football Powerhouses See Significant Spending on Coaching Staffs
higher stakes, bigger budgets. A recent analysis reveals a trend among top-performing Big Ten football programs: increasing spending on coaching staffs.
Ohio state, the reigning champions of college football, led the charge in 2024 with a remarkable $28.5 million investment in its coaching staff, nearly $8 million more than runner-up Penn State ($20.8 million). This high investment underscores the commitment of top programs to bolstering their coaching ranks in the fiercely competitive college football landscape.
The trend demonstrates a commitment to maintaining athletic dominance. All five of these powerhouses—Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon ($20.5 million), Michigan ($20.43 million), and Iowa ($19.2 million)—won at least 10 games the previous season.they’ve also invested in their staffs significantly over the past 19 months, indicating a focus on sustained success.
Conversely, Purdue ($10 million) and UCLA ($11.95 million) spent considerably less on coaching staffs, marking a stark contrast to their more prosperous peers. Notably, the coaches for both these programs have since moved on to other opportunities.
Ticket Sales Surge for College Football Champs
Michigan, crowned national champion in 2023, generated a whopping $50.3 million in football ticket sales, leading the Big Ten conference. Ohio State, despite just six home games, still commanded $47.85 million – a dip from the previous year’s $64.3 million. Penn State trailed closely behind with $44.45 million.National runner-up Washington hauled in $31 million from ticket sales, placing them ahead of Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa, who all earned between $24.25 million and $22.6 million.Michigan State generated $19.6 million in ticket sales.
Despite consistent sellouts throughout the 2023 football season,Nebraska reported the lowest football gate revenue as joining the Big Ten in 2011 (excluding the COVID-19 impacted year). Every year from 2014 to 2023,they generated at least $30 million. In fiscal 2024, their revenue dropped to $24.24 million.
Four teams brought in less than $10 million from football ticket sales, with UCLA ($8.35 million) and Maryland ($7.27 million) at the bottom.
Men’s Basketball revenue Varies Across the Conference
Indiana, which recorded $10 million in football gate revenue, topped the Big ten with $15.2 million from men’s basketball ticket sales. Illinois closely followed with $9.82 million in football and $9.36 million in men’s basketball revenue.
Purdue ($8.18 million), Michigan State ($7.79 million),and UCLA ($6.89 million) rounded out the top five in men’s basketball ticket sales but ranked 11th, ninth, and 15th, respectively, in football sales.
Notable was the gap between football and basketball revenue for some teams. The top four basketball schools all witnessed revenue increases ranging from $2.9 million (Indiana) to $900,000 (Purdue). Conversely, UCLA’s men’s basketball ticket revenue dipped by about $500,000.
Iowa’s men’s basketball program hasn’t exceeded $4 million in gate revenue as 2005 and saw a significant drop of over $500,000 from fiscal year 2023.
Five teams experienced revenue decreases, with UCLA and Iowa having the most notable drops.
Non-Revenue sports Financial Highlights
Beyond football and men’s basketball, only two other sports within the Big Ten generated profits in fiscal year 2024: Minnesota men’s ice hockey ($7.84 million) and Nebraska women’s volleyball ($1.82 million).
Big Ten Schools Drive Revenue Through Thriving Sports Programs
Big Ten athletics departments are experiencing strong financial performance, bolstered by popular sports programs and packed stands. According to recently released data, the conference saw significant revenue generation in a variety of sports, highlighting the growing appeal and profitability beyond customary powerhouses like football and men’s basketball.
Big Ten Volleyball Dominates
volleyball, particularly, emerged as a major revenue generator. The NCAA Women’s Volleyball Final Four teams from the Big Ten, Nebraska and Wisconsin, dominated ticket sales, bringing in $2.57 million and $1.65 million respectively. Minnesota followed closely behind with $826,000 in ticket revenue.
Women’s Basketball on the Rise
The women’s basketball scene is also experiencing a boom, propelled by star players like Caitlin Clark of Iowa. Clark’s presence sparked a surge in ticket sales, pushing Iowa’s program to third place nationwide for ticket revenue outside of football and men’s basketball, selling $3.2 million worth of tickets. Her impact extended to opposing teams, who saw a combined $1.9 million increase in year-over-year ticket sales from their games against Iowa.
Other Big Ten programs like Indiana, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Nebraska also achieved extraordinary ticket sales figures in women’s basketball, exceeding $850,000 each.
Men’s Ice Hockey a Powerful Draw
Men’s ice hockey programs across the conference also delivered strong results, with Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State boasting total ticket sales exceeding $1.4 million each. The Wednesday afternoon match-up bween Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini was a thrilling conclusion to the big Ten Women’s Hockey series. michigan State never trailed the Fighting Illini scoring three goals in the final three minutes of the game.
On the wrestling mats, Iowa and national champion Penn State continued their dominance, leading the nation in ticket sales for the sport with $1.56 million and $1.26 million respectively.
Nebraska’s baseball program also made a noteworthy contribution, nearly reaching $1 million in ticket sales.
This is a very well-structured and informative piece about the financial performance of Big Ten athletics. Here are some of its strengths:
Big Ten Athletics: A Deep Dive Into Revenue and Spending
The Big Ten Conference stands as a titan in collage athletics, boasting some of the most popular and profitable sports programs in the nation. Recent reports reveal a fascinating look into the financial landscape of these powerhouse institutions, highlighting both the immense resources poured into athletic departments and the impressive revenue generated through successful programs.
Total athletic revenue for Big Ten schools reached $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2024, with football leading the charge. Illinois led the pack at $312.5 million, followed by Ohio State at $286.7 million. these figures underscore the considerable investments universities make in their athletic programs, ofen relying on bond sales or loans to finance major projects.
While many Big Ten athletic departments aim for financial independence, several receive direct support from their universities. UCLA notably reports no athletic debt, while Maryland lists $8 million. These institutions frequently supplement athletic budgets through student fees and direct university funding. Rutgers, such as, carries $51.4 million in debt but receives over $21 million in student fees and direct institutional support.
Football Recruiting Costs surge
Football recruiting expenses have witnessed a sharp increase. Big Ten schools collectively spent over $30.1 million in the latest fiscal year, a 56% jump from $19.35 million in 2022.
this surge reflects the intensifying competition for top talent. while Iowa remains an outlier with $638,000 in reported expenses, other institutions have significantly increased their recruiting budgets. Penn State and Washington both reached $2.8 million, while Minnesota and Nebraska saw increases exceeding $1 million each.
the Link Between Coaching Salary and Success
Although specific salary figures may fluctuate, a discernible pattern emerges regarding football coaching salaries and on-field performance.
Big Ten football Powerhouses See Important Spending on Coaching Staffs
Higher stakes, bigger budgets. A recent analysis reveals a trend among top-performing Big Ten football programs: increasing spending on coaching staffs.
Ohio State, the reigning champions of college football, led the charge in 2024 with a remarkable $28.5 million investment in its coaching staff, nearly $8 million more than runner-up Penn State ($20.8 million). This high investment underscores the commitment of top programs to bolstering their coaching ranks in the fiercely competitive college football landscape.
The trend demonstrates a commitment to maintaining athletic dominance. All five of these powerhouses—Ohio State, Penn state, Oregon ($20.5 million), Michigan ($20.43 million), and Iowa ($19.2 million)—won at least 10 games the previous season. They’ve also invested significantly in their staffs over the past 19 months, indicating a focus on sustained success.
Conversely, Purdue ($10 million) and UCLA ($11.95 million) spent considerably less on coaching staffs, marking a stark contrast to their more prosperous peers. Notably, the coaches for both these programs have as moved on to other opportunities.
Ticket Sales surge for College Football Champs
michigan, crowned national champion in 2023, generated a whopping $50.3 million in football ticket sales, leading the Big Ten conference. Ohio State, despite just six home games, still commanded $47.85 million – a dip from the previous year’s $64.3 million. Penn state trailed closely behind with $44.45 million. National runner-up Washington hauled in $31 million from ticket sales, placing them ahead of Oregon, nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa, who all earned between $24.25 million and $22.6 million. Michigan State generated $19.6 million in ticket sales.
Despite consistent sellouts throughout the 2023 football season, Nebraska reported the lowest football gate revenue as joining the Big Ten in 2011 (excluding the COVID-19 impacted year).Every year from 2014 to 2023, they generated at least $30 million. In fiscal 2024, their revenue dropped to $24.24 million.
Four teams brought in less than $10 million from football ticket sales, with UCLA ($8.35 million) and Maryland ($7.27 million) at the bottom.
Men’s Basketball revenue Varies Across the Conference
Indiana, which recorded $10 million in football gate revenue, topped the Big ten with $15.2 million from men’s basketball ticket sales. Illinois closely followed with $9.82 million in football and $9.36 million in men’s basketball revenue.
Purdue ($8.18 million), Michigan State ($7.79 million), and UCLA ($6.89 million) rounded out the top five in men’s basketball ticket sales but ranked 11th, ninth, and 15th, respectively, in football sales.
Notable was the gap between football and basketball revenue for some teams. The top four basketball schools all witnessed revenue increases ranging from $2.9 million (Indiana) to $900,000 (Purdue). Conversely, UCLA’s men’s basketball ticket revenue dipped by about $500,000.
iowa’s men’s basketball program hasn’t exceeded $4 million in gate revenue as 2005 and saw a significant drop of over $500,000 from fiscal year 2023.
Five teams experienced revenue decreases, with UCLA and iowa having the most notable drops.
Non-Revenue sports Financial Highlights
Beyond football and men’s basketball, only two other sports within the Big Ten generated profits in fiscal year 2024: Minnesota men’s ice hockey ($7.84 million) and Nebraska women’s volleyball ($1.82 million).
Big Ten Schools Drive Revenue Through Thriving Sports Programs
Big Ten athletics departments are experiencing strong financial performance, bolstered by popular sports programs and packed stands. According to recently released data, the conference saw significant revenue generation in a variety of sports, highlighting the growing appeal and profitability beyond customary powerhouses like football and men’s basketball.
Big Ten Volleyball Dominates
Volleyball, notably, emerged as a major revenue generator. The NCAA Women’s Volleyball Final Four teams from the Big Ten, Nebraska and Wisconsin, dominated ticket sales, bringing in $2.57 million and $1.65 million respectively. Minnesota followed closely behind with $826,000 in ticket revenue.
Women’s Basketball on the Rise
The women’s basketball scene is also experiencing a boom, propelled by star players like Caitlin Clark of Iowa. Clark’s presence sparked a surge in ticket sales, pushing Iowa’s program to third place nationwide for ticket revenue outside of football and men’s basketball, selling $3.2 million worth of tickets. Her impact extended to opposing teams, who saw a combined $1.9 million increase in year-over-year ticket sales from their games against Iowa.
Other Big Ten programs like Indiana, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Nebraska also achieved unusual ticket sales figures in women’s basketball, exceeding $850,000 each.
Men’s Ice Hockey a Powerful Draw
Men’s ice hockey programs across the conference also delivered strong results, with Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State boasting total ticket sales exceeding $1.4 million each.
On the wrestling mats, Iowa and national champion Penn State continued their dominance, leading the nation in ticket sales for the sport with $1.56 million and $1.26 million respectively.
Nebraska’s baseball program also made a noteworthy contribution, nearly reaching $1 million in ticket sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: Which Big Ten school generates the most revenue from football ticket sales?**
**A:** Michigan takes the top spot with a whopping $50.3 million in 2023,followed closely by Ohio State.
**Q: Which sports besides football and men’s basketball are profitable for Big Ten schools?**
**A:** Minnesota men’s ice hockey and Nebraska women’s volleyball stand out as profitable sports within the conference.
**Q: How has the rise of star players like Caitlin Clark impacted women’s basketball revenue?**
**A:** Clark’s star power has significantly increased ticket sales for Iowa women’s basketball, and her opponents have also seen a boost in revenue from matchups against her team.
**Q: what’s the connection between coaching salaries and on-field success in football?**
**A:** Top-performing Big Ten football teams tend to invest heavily in their coaching staffs, suggesting a strong correlation between salary and success.
The rise of popular stars,the increasing profitability of non-revenue sports,and the fierce competition for talent all contribute to the dynamic financial landscape of Big Ten athletics.
