SEC and Big Ten Football Finances
If you read my pieces on Forbes.com about SEC and Big Ten football finances, you may be interested in seeing the charts I compiled on each conference. You can download below.
SEC Financial Data (Excel) SEC Financial Data (PDF)
Big Ten Financial Data (Excel) Big Ten Financial Data (PDF)
UPDATE (3/7/2011, 3:19 p.m.) After talking to a handful of schools in each conference, it has become clear that schools in each conference vary how they attribute broadcasting money that covers more than one sport. It seems schools are split pretty evenly between dividing it out between sports and just including it under non-sport specific. Therefore, I have taken down the Big Ten adjusted charts. Unless every school calls me back (and I’ve put calls into every single one), the adjusted figures aren’t really useful.
UPDATE (2/1/2011, 3:23 p.m.) Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern and Michigan’s athletic departments spoke with me about Big Ten Network revenues. Purdue, Iowa and Michigan indicated that they do not attribute it to any sport, so none of that revenue is included in football revenue. It is, however, included under non-sport specific revenue, so the overall athletic department profit numbers do not change for the Big Ten. Each school indicated that with other broadcasting revenue they attribute the money 65/35 between football and other sports (none gave a reason for why they don’t do this with Big Ten Network revenue). They also gave me the total amount each Big Ten school received from the Big Ten Network during the reporting period I have covered, which was $14,911,477.
Based on the amount they have confirmed was received by each school from Big Ten Network revenue, it is not possible that Northwestern, Michigan State or Illinois is reporting the entire figure in the other, non-sport specific category, as is the case with Purdue, Iowa and Michigan. Northwestern’s total for “other” is $14,747,543, Michigan State’s is $11,459,191 and Illinois’ is $5,664,148. Thus, I have assumed (until they return my calls for comment) they are attributing a portion of Big Ten Network revenue to football.
Ohio State confirmed that they already attribute Big Ten Network revenue between football and basketball, so no adjustment is needed for their football revenue number.
For the adjusted chart above, I’ve chosen to use 65% of the Big Ten Network revenue each school received in 2009 as the amount that could be attributed to football for those schools who have either confirmed they are attributing all of their Big Ten Network revenue to the other, non-sport specific category or those who may be and have not returned my calls. That means adding $9,692,460 to each school’s revenue. I have added that amount to each school’s football revenue total in the attached chart.
I will provide additional updates as available.