Texas, Texas A&M lead college sports revenue standings... by nearly $30 million
Texas and Texas A&M have combined to win one national championship in football and men's basketball since 1970, but the Lone Star State rivals are absolutely lapping the field at the cash register.
According to figures released Thursday by USA Today, Texas led college sports with nearly $215 million in revenue in fiscal year 2017, edging out Texas A&M's nearly $212 million for yet another Straight Cash Homie national championship. Ohio State came in third at $185.4 million -- meaning Texas is nearly 14 percent ahead of the bronze medalist.
Put another way: Texas and Texas A&M combined to make more money than the entire MAC -- by more than $40 million.
But it's not just the Longhorns and Aggies that are raking it in like never before. As USA Today points out, not a single school earned so much as $120 million in 2007. In 2012, five schools made $120 million. By 2017? Fifteen schools earned at least $140 million.
The Top 15, rounded to the nearest hundred thousand:
1. Texas -- $214.8 million
2. Texas A&M -- $212 million
3. Ohio State -- $185.4 million
4. Michigan -- $185.2 million
5. Alabama -- $174.3 million
6. Georgia -- $157.9 million
7. Oklahoma -- $155.2 million
8. Florida -- $149.2 million
9. LSU -- $147.7 million
10. Auburn -- $147.5 million
11. Tennessee -- $145.7 million
12. Oregon -- $145.4 million
13. Florida State -- $144.5 million
14. Penn State -- $144 million
15. Wisconsin -- $143.4 million
The top three by each FBS conference, again rounded to the nearest hundred thousand:
American
1. Connecticut -- $83.4 million
2. Cincinnati -- $60.5 million
3. Houston -- $57.2 million
ACC
1. Florida State -- $144.5 million
2. Louisville -- $120.4 million
3. Clemson -- $112.6 million
Big 12
1. Texas -- $214.3 million
2. Oklahoma -- $155.2 million
3. West Virginia -- $110.6 million
Big Ten
1. Ohio State -- $185.4 million
2. Michigan -- $185.1 million
3. Penn State -- $144 million
Conference USA
1. Old Dominion -- $46.2 million
2. Charlotte -- $37.9 million
3. Florida Atlantic -- $34.5 million
MAC
1. Western Michigan -- $38.5 million
2. Miami (Ohio) -- $37.8 million
3. Buffalo -- $35.9 million
Mountain West
1. Air Force -- $59.6 million
2. San Diego State -- $52.5 million
3. UNLV -- $47.3 million
Pac-12
1. Oregon -- $145.4 million
2. Washington -- $128.7 million
3. UCLA -- $104.1 million
(USC and Stanford not included)
SEC
1. Texas A&M -- $212 million
2. Alabama -- $174.3 million
3. Georgia -- $157.9 million
Sun Belt
1. Arkansas State -- $39.5 million
2. Texas State -- $38.4 million
3. Appalachian State -- $35.1 million
