USA Today, the folks behind the always-useful head coach, assistant coach and athletics director salary databases, have released their 2013-14 findings of Division I athletics department revenues.
Texas again led the way with $165,691,486 in revenue (and $146,807,585 in expenses, for a cool $18,883,901 in profit, err, budget surplus), followed by Wisconsin ($149 million), Alabama ($143.7 million), Michigan ($143.5 million), Ohio State ($139 million), Florida ($130 million), Oklahoma ($123 million), LSU ($117 million), Oregon ($115 million) and Tennessee ($111 million) to round out the top 10. Each of those programs earned more than they spent, although Tennessee squeaked by with $1.3 million in profit, and was aided by $12.4 million in subsidies. Penn State ranked 12th in revenue at $104 million and change, but placed sixth in spending at nearly $111 million.
Speaking of subsidies, only seven schools operated without any outside help - Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, Penn State, Nebraska and Purdue - and four more used subsidies for less than one percent of their overall budget - Michigan, Iowa, Texas A&M and Kentucky. Non-football Chicago State led Division I by far in subsidies, with 94.12 percent of its budget coming from that specific revenue stream.
Power Five schools claimed the top 47 spots in overall earnings - there are 65 in total. Connecticut leads the rest of the pack, checked in at 48th with more than $63 million in revenue.
Here are the top three revenue-earning athletics departments in FBS for 2013. Two things to keep in mind: private schools were not required to divulge their financial information, and every school counts its beans differently.
Standings reflect the 2013 college football season.
ACC
American
Big Ten
Big 12
Conference USA
MAC
Mountain West
Pac-12
SEC
Sun Belt
FCS