Most Profitable College Football Teams

[TXSU]

College football's $1.1 billion profit
By Chris Isidore, senior writerDecember 29, 2010: 9:59 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The richest college football programs got richer in 2010, pocketing more than $1 billion in profits for the first time.

The profit for the 68 teams that play in the six major conferences was up 11% from the prior school year, according to a CNNMoney analysis of figures filed by each school with the Department of Education.

In the school year that ended in 2010, the vast majority of the schools in one of these deep-pocketed conferences posted a profit. Four of them broke even and only one -- Wake Forest -- reported a loss.

On average, each team earned $15.8 million last year, or well over $1 million per game.

They posted that jump in combined profit even though revenue rose by only 6% to $2.2 billion. That means the schools had a combined profit margin of 49%, enough to make any pro team owner green with envy.

Increasingly lucrative broadcast deals and strong ticket sales have been driving revenue. And, of course, not having to pay your athletes gives big-time college football the ultimate business model.

Bowl-eligible schools in the smaller conferences weren't nearly as profitable. Fifty-three schools split profits of $26 million. Eight lost money.

There was little change in the rankings of the most profitable schools. The University of Texas football program was once again the leader in both revenue, with $94 million, and profit, with $68 million.

Alabama is good enough to rank No. 2 in revenue and No. 7 in profits, while Georgia ranked No. 3 in revenue and No. 2 in profit.

Profits didn't always translate to victories on the field. Texas finished the season 5 wins and 7 losses, and players will be watching the bowl season on television this year. Georgia and Alabama are in small-dollar bowls this year.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/29/news/companies/college_football_dollars/index.htm

 

[Herbert77060]

We (our Black athletes) keep making their universities richer and richer while "we" stick our chests out and our schools (HBCUs) get poorer and poorer or at the very least struggle to maintain.

Will we ever learn?

College football's $1.1 billion profit
By Chris Isidore, senior writerDecember 29, 2010: 9:59 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The richest college football programs got richer in 2010, pocketing more than $1 billion in profits for the first time.

The profit for the 68 teams that play in the six major conferences was up 11% from the prior school year, according to a CNNMoney analysis of figures filed by each school with the Department of Education.

In the school year that ended in 2010, the vast majority of the schools in one of these deep-pocketed conferences posted a profit. Four of them broke even and only one -- Wake Forest -- reported a loss.

On average, each team earned $15.8 million last year, or well over $1 million per game.

They posted that jump in combined profit even though revenue rose by only 6% to $2.2 billion. That means the schools had a combined profit margin of 49%, enough to make any pro team owner green with envy.

Increasingly lucrative broadcast deals and strong ticket sales have been driving revenue. And, of course, not having to pay your athletes gives big-time college football the ultimate business model.

Bowl-eligible schools in the smaller conferences weren't nearly as profitable. Fifty-three schools split profits of $26 million. Eight lost money.

There was little change in the rankings of the most profitable schools. The University of Texas football program was once again the leader in both revenue, with $94 million, and profit, with $68 million.

Alabama is good enough to rank No. 2 in revenue and No. 7 in profits, while Georgia ranked No. 3 in revenue and No. 2 in profit.

Profits didn't always translate to victories on the field. Texas finished the season 5 wins and 7 losses, and players will be watching the bowl season on television this year. Georgia and Alabama are in small-dollar bowls this year.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/29/news/companies/college_football_dollars/index.htm

 

[JSUDMJ2004]

We (our Black athletes) keep making their universities richer and richer while "we" stick our chests out and our schools (HBCUs) get poorer and poorer or at the very least struggle to maintain.

Will we ever learn?

Not until our HBCU's revamp and upgrade.........Seriously!

 

[TXSU]

Not until our HBCU's revamp and upgrade.........Seriously!

and start giving back! Those Profitable College Football Teams have "big time" athletic foundations!

 

[Kendrick]

and start giving back! Those Profitable College Football Teams have "big time" athletic foundations!

What people don't realize is that only 14 D1 schools turned a real profit in 2009 even though football is a lucrative business it seems.

 

[JSUDMJ2004]

I watch a 30 min ESPNU Roadtrip Inside Oregon State Football special..........these kids had a game room the size of JSU Football Field house, every kid had on Nike from head to toe, practice facilities top notch, practice unis look better than our game unis, each player has atleast 3 pair of game cleats.................How can a kid turn that down? Thing is we have to start pouring money into our schools and trust that they will do they need to do with the money....

 

[JSUDMJ2004]

What people don't realize is that only 14 D1 schools turned a real profit in 2009 even though football is a lucrative business it seems.

Those schools are running college football...I am willing to bet those schools boosters are playing a big part in those programs......

 

[TXSU]

Those schools are running college football...I am willing to bet those schools boosters are playing a big part in those programs......

yeah, they also supplement the coaches salaries.

 

[Herbert77060]

When did the "other" schools start to make their mark so to speak? Not until they began raiding HBCUs. You may be too young to remember but I am 57 years old and I saw what happened. They let guys in school JUST to play football using playing on television as the hook (and this was after decades of not wanting us on their campuses). Initially the guys they got couldn't get on the field at HBCUs but they were starters at their schools.

When are we going to stop being bedazzled by the "shiny beads" and the trinkets? Have we forgotten how they got Manhattan?

The AFL spotlighted the HBCU athlete so there really was no need for us to abandon our institutions. But, as usual we crave to be where we are not wanted.

Not until our HBCU's revamp and upgrade.........Seriously!

 

[Herbert77060]

Kids should not be left to their own when making these decisions. Parents need to be involved. But the problem is that too many parents who look like us live vicariously through our children and they want as much as the child does to go after the shiny beads and trinkets.....and to get paid whenever possible.

To be able to revamp and upgrade we need to put a superior product on the field and on the courts....we can't do that unless we get the best athletes. But the same mentality that has us standing in line and fighting over $200 Jordan's is the same mentality that makes us flock to their schools.

I watch a 30 min ESPNU Roadtrip Inside Oregon State Football special..........these kids had a game room the size of JSU Football Field house, every kid had on Nike from head to toe, practice facilities top notch, practice unis look better than our game unis, each player has atleast 3 pair of game cleats.................How can a kid turn that down? Thing is we have to start pouring money into our schools and trust that they will do they need to do with the money....

 

[Conroegirl]

We are very wanted at this point, check Texas blue chip list. It's filled with young inner city black kids. The fact is kids want to get drafted and not just invited to combines. The want big signing bonuses! It is difficult to get those things coming from an HBCU.

When did the "other" schools start to make their mark so to speak? Not until they began raiding HBCUs. You may be too young to remember but I am 57 years old and I saw what happened. They let guys in school JUST to play football using playing on television as the hook (and this was after decades of not wanting us on their campuses). Initially the guys they got couldn't get on the field at HBCUs but they were starters at their schools.

When are we going to stop being bedazzled by the "shiny beads" and the trinkets? Have we forgotten how they got Manhattan?

The AFL spotlighted the HBCU athlete so there really was no need for us to abandon our institutions. But, as usual we crave to be where we are not wanted.

 

[Herbert77060]

Yeah, and back during the "Pony Express" days and after the former governor of Texas was involved big time in the slush funding.

yeah, they also supplement the coaches salaries.

 

[Kendrick]

I watch a 30 min ESPNU Roadtrip Inside Oregon State Football special..........these kids had a game room the size of JSU Football Field house, every kid had on Nike from head to toe, practice facilities top notch, practice unis look better than our game unis, each player has atleast 3 pair of game cleats.................How can a kid turn that down? Thing is we have to start pouring money into our schools and trust that they will do they need to do with the money....

It helps when your biggest booster is the CEO of Nike.

 

[Herbert77060]

I disagree. If SIDs did their jobs and we got the better athlete AND coaches more of our guys would get drafted.

Case in point....there was a baseball player that played at sTu a couple of years ago who went undrafted. I forget the major league team that held the camp for undrafted players but the scout said if he had known about the sTu player he would have drafted him. But because no info on the guy was being sent to the major league teams, the guy he went unnoticed. Our SIDs need to a better job of publicizing what we do have. We do a very poor job of tooting our own horns these days. In days past our SIDs worked their butts off to get our guys in the minds of those decision makers.

We are very wanted at this point, check Texas blue chip list. It's filled with young inner city black kids. The fact is kids want to get drafted and not just invited to combines. The want big signing bonuses! It is difficult to get those things coming from an HBCU.

 

[Herbert77060]

Come on guys....we (HBCUs) have always HAD to do more with less. This is still the good ole U S of A.

It helps when your biggest booster is the CEO of Nike.

 

[Kendrick]

I disagree. If SIDs did their jobs and we got the better athlete AND coaches more of our guys would get drafted.

Case in point....there was a baseball player that played at sTu a couple of years ago who went undrafted. I forget the major league team that held the camp for undrafted players but the guy said if he had known about the sTu player he would have drafted him. But because no info on the guy was being sent to the major league teams on the guy he went unnoticed. Our SIDs need to a better job of publicizing what we do have. We do a very poor job of tooting our own horns these days. In days past our SIDs worked their butts off to get our guys in the minds of those decision makers.

You can blame the ADs and SIDs all day. But these BCS schools have tremendous resources and manpower that dwarfs mid-major FBS schools and all of he FCS schools. The Big Ten and SEC gets nearly $500 million annually in TV money alone.

They have boosters with deep pockets, and are very influential in certain circles.

Not to mention the dirtiest player in the game is the SEC. They have the best talent, bring in the most revenue and have the highest paid coaches in the country. That league scares away other conferences from recruiting kids because of all the muscle involved.

It's tough in the dog-eat-dog world of college recruiting. We can whine, complain, hope and wish all day until the year 3000, but HBCUs will never be what they once were. We are the Negro Leagues of the NCAA. When MLB started taking all the great black players, the Negro Leagues died real quick.

That's what happening to HBCU athletics. I don't think sports will vanish anytime soon. However, it will takes ages for HBCUs to compete again unless there is a cultural and financial change.

 

[SUJagFan]

When did the "other" schools start to make their mark so to speak? Not until they began raiding HBCUs.

That is absolutely untrue.

There was big time college football long before desegregation. The football tradition at Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Alabama - in other words, the schools that are making all of this money - built their traditions long before desegregation. Heck, even TCU won national championships in the 30s.

While it is no question the black athlete plays a role in their success today, the fan bases, name recognition and revenue streams were built long before the black athlete arrived on their campuses. Those things are actually where their true strength lies and not in the fact that black athletes now attend their universities.

 

[Herbert77060]

That is one premise I will not accept. I know it is tough but hell it is tough for everybody. But tell Me this, why is it that an Appalachian State and some other FCS schools and schools like Boise do the jobs they are doing. Hell, I didn't even know Boise had a football team until a few years ago. I contend that the defeatist attitude permeates too deeply these days in HBCU institutions. Yeah, we are at a disadvantage financially but tell me when it has been different? I know there was a time when our kids had very few choices but even then our Athletic departments were more creative and ambitious than today. For the most part we are content with dominating our conferences when there is an entire world out there to conquer.

I am seeing it begin to happen at sTu. Our AD is whipping this thing into shape slowly but surely. We finally have someone in charge (after many many years) who gives a crap and knows his business. He tells it straight and is not scared to do what he knows to do. He got the student government to agree to fee increases to help the athletic department. He is getting corporations to give to sTu who have never given us a second thought. It may not be UT money but every little bit helps and used wisely it can and will get a lot done. McClelland (and I say that with the utmost respect) has gotten more done in three years than Blackwell (and I say that with the utmost disdain) did in his seven plus years. We can be viable and relevant again but we have to believe it if know one else does......and we HAVE to send OUR children to HBCU institutions.

You can blame the ADs and SIDs all day. But these BCS schools have tremendous resources and manpower that dwarfs mid-major FBS schools and all of he FCS schools. The Big Ten and SEC gets nearly $500 million annually in TV money alone.

They have boosters with deep pockets, and are very influential in certain circles.

Not to mention the dirtiest player in the game is the SEC. They have the best talent, bring in the most revenue and have the highest paid coaches in the country. That league scares away other conferences from recruiting kids because of all the muscle involved.

It's tough in the dog-eat-dog world of college recruiting. We can whine, complain, hope and wish all day until the year 3000, but HBCUs will never be what they once were. We are the Negro Leagues of the NCAA. When MLB started taking all the great black players, the Negro Leagues died real quick.

That's what happening to HBCU athletics. I don't think sports will vanish anytime soon. However, it will takes ages for HBCUs to compete again unless there is a cultural and financial change.

 

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

That is one premise I will not accept. I know it is tough but hell it is tough for everybody. But tell Me this, why is it that an Appalachian State and some other FCS schools and schools like Boise do the jobs they are doing. Hell, I didn't even know Boise had a football team until a few years ago. I contend that the defeatist attitude permeates too deeply these days in HBCU institutions. Yeah, we are at a disadvantage financially but tell me when it has been different? I know there was a time when our kids had very few choices but even then our Athletic departments were more creative and ambitious than today. For the most part we are content with dominating our conferences when there is an entire world out there to conquer.

I am seeing it begin to happen at sTu. Our AD is whipping this thing into shape slowly but surely. We finally have someone in charge (after many many years) who gives a crap and knows his business. He tells it straight and is not scared to do what he knows to do. He got the student government to agree to fee increases to help the athletic department. He is getting corporations to give to sTu who have never given us a second thought. It may not be UT money but every little bit helps and used wisely it can and will get a lot done. McClelland (and I say that with the utmost respect) has gotten more done in three years than Blackwell (and I say that with the utmost disdain) did in his seven plus years. We can be viable and relevant again but we have to believe it if know one else does......and we HAVE to send OUR children to HBCU institutions.

McClelland is doing a excellent job. He is a product fo a HBCU and knows how to deal with "our" fans as well as with the buisness community. Its painfully obvious the hires we have made from the BCS type schools have not work. Lefluer, Blackwell, and the guy from Bama St that was the coached @ Temple . . When we learn :smh: .

 

[Fiyah]

What people don't realize is that only 14 D1 schools turned a real profit in 2009 even though football is a lucrative business it seems.

Don't get duped into thinking only 14 schools turned a profit, it's all in how they do the math.

I disagree. If SIDs did their jobs and we got the better athlete AND coaches more of our guys would get drafted.

You can't put that blame on the SID's. Most of the HBCU's only have 1 maybe 2 people working in that office and they have to do the work for all the athletic teams (men & women).

In baseball there are plenty of guys that go undrafted and make it to a MLB team. Baseball is one sport where there isn't enough scouts to get all over the US to look at players. Don't forget that they are even scouting players in other countries and still miss good players.

Our SID's are over worked and can't keep up with the load.

 

[Herbert77060]

True but they are not and would not be making near the money they are now without us. The south suffered mightily when they refused to play black athletes. Not until the USCs and Nebraskas and Oklahomas started kicking their butts with black players did they even begin to change.

But what is amazing and it never fails to happen is when we are given choices we always and without fail abandon what we have built and established. That is no ones fault but our own. As you stated with Negro league baseball....it is our fault that WE abandoned our teams and leagues (some of which were owned by whites). It is like what we built with our own sweat and blood is never good enough...not even for us....we are so starved for acceptance from them that we always abandon what is our for theirs thinking if we assimilate we will be accepted.....HA!....It ain't gon' hap'n cap'n.

The area of Houston I grew up in was once a city established by Black folk. We had everything the city of Houston had in Independence Heights. Grocery stores, cab stands, restaurants (of course we called them cafe's), cleaners...etc. Even the "Colored Theater"...The Lincoln located on the north side of downtown Houston was owned by the man who lived in Independence Heights. Everything a city needed. But that was not good enough...some in the community felt that by "joining" with the city of Houston we would somehow elevate our status......Ha!....We did not get paved streets in my neighborhood until I was in junior high. Yeah, annexation was going to happen but we gave ourselves to them...they didn't have to ask or take it...we GAVE it away to strengthen their tax base and we got nothing (or very little) for our efforts.

It is the same story across the board...even with our institutions of higher learning.

We always go for the shiny beads.

Climbing off my soapbox.....I apologize for the rant.

That is absolutely untrue.

There was big time college football long before desegregation. The football tradition at Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Alabama - in other words, the schools that are making all of this money - built their traditions long before desegregation. Heck, even TCU won national championships in the 30s.




While it is no question the black athlete plays a role in their success today, the fan bases, name recognition and revenue streams were built long before the black athlete arrived on their campuses. Those things are actually where their true strength lies and not in the fact that black athletes now attend their universities.

 

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

True but they are not and would not be making near the money they are now without us. The south suffered mightily when they refused to play black athletes. Not until the USCs and Nebraskas and Oklahomas started kicking their butts with black players did they even begin to change.

But what is amazing and it never fails to happen is when we are given choices we always and without fail abandon what we have built and established. That is no ones fault but our own. As you stated with Negro league baseball....it is our fault that WE abandoned our teams and leagues (some of which were owned by whites). It is like what we built with our own sweat and blood is never good enough...not even for us....we are so starved for acceptance from them that we always abandon what is our for theirs thinking if we assimilate we will be accepted.....HA!....It ain't gon' hap'n cap'n.

There are of Houston I grew up in was once a city established by Black folk. We had everything the city of Houston had in Independence Heights. Grocery stores, cab stands, restaurants (of course we called them cafe's), cleaners...etc. Even the "Colored Theater"...The Lincoln located on the north side of downtown Houston was owned by the man who lived in Independence Heights. Everything a city needed. But that was not good enough...some in the community felt that by "joining" with the city of Houston we would somehow elevate our status......Ha!....We did not get paved streets in my neighborhood until I was in junior high. Yeah, annexation was going to happen but we gave ourselves to them...they didn't have to ask or take it...we GAVE it away to strengthen their tax base and we got nothing (or very little) for our efforts.

It is the same story across the board...even with our institutions of higher learning.

We always go for the shiny beads.

Climbing off my soapbox.....I apologize for the rant.

Preach.

 

[Herbert77060]

I hear you about being "under" staffed but how did guys like Collie Nicholson (I hope I didn't misspell his name) get it done? They had far fewer resources than the SIDs today have and they got far more done. What would Collie have been able to accomplish with a computer and the internet?

The internet has made the job of today's SIDs a hell of a lot easier. Mass emails can go a long way is getting your guys and girls exposure.

Don't get duped into thinking only 14 schools turned a profit, it's all in how they do the math.



You can't put that blame on the SID's. Most of the HBCU's only have 1 maybe 2 people working in that office and they have to do the work for all the athletic teams (men & women).

In baseball there are plenty of guys that go undrafted and make it to a MLB team. Baseball is one sport where there isn't enough scouts to get all over the US to look at players. Don't forget that they are even scouting players in other countries and still miss good players.

Our SID's are over worked and can't keep up with the load.

 

[the band fan]

an SID ain't going to get a football player drafted in today's society.....the main job is make sure they're out there so the scouts can visit the campus and then there has to be tape of them so they can evaluate them......the player has to do their part on the field first......in football and basketball these days, scouts leave nothing unturned....

Fiyah is right in baseball.....your location helps big time as scouts are in Houston all the time and SWAC schools play all over the state so it's easy to be seen.....

as for Houston......folks want to move to places with the word "Land"...Pearland, Sugar Land.......when we get our own schools we think its not good enough so we'll run to the closet suburban place to be the minority again.....no way should Pearland High won a state title while Willowridge, Madison, Booker. T, etc. suffer with no enrollment

when those areas turn black and white folks leave, we'll follow instead of taking it over....Willowridge was the closest example of black folks in the suburbs working together and being successful....but it wasn't good enough still

 

[Herbert77060]

The SID's job is to get the information out there. That is their job. Put the information in front of the teams/scouts. There are many very gifted athletes (in my not so humble opinion) that play at HBCUs that go unnoticed because no one puts their names in front of the scouts. SIDs should work with the video guys and who ever else to make sure the guys who CAN play get noticed. CDs/DVDs are cheap. A stamp is .44. Excuses are many.

an SID ain't going to get a football player drafted in today's society.....the main job is make sure they're out there so the scouts can visit the campus and then there has to be tape of them so they can evaluate them......the player has to do their part on the field first......in football and basketball these days, scouts leave nothing unturned....

I do not disagree but the scout himself said if he had known about the sTu player he would have drafted him. When he finally saw him at the workout he said they had no room at his position. I will see if I can find the article.

Fiyah is right in baseball.....your location helps big time as scouts are in Houston all the time and SWAC schools play all over the state so it's easy to be seen.....

You are preaching to the choir now. When I had my house built my realtor assumed I wanted to move in a "white" area. I told her I wanted to live around Black folk and I built across the street from her....Strange, she lived in a nice neighborhood where people took care of their yards and property but she assumed I would not want to live around Black folk.

p.s. You left out The Woodlands...LOL

as for Houston......folks want to move to places with the word "Land"...Pearland, Sugar Land.......when we get our own schools we think its not good enough so we'll run to the closet suburban place to be the minority again.....no way should Pearland High won a state title while Willowridge, Madison, Booker. T, etc. suffer with no enrollment

when those areas turn black and white folks leave, we'll follow instead of taking it over....Willowridge was the closest example of black folks in the suburbs working together and being successful....but it wasn't good enough still