College Football: Top 5 FBS Money-Makers for the 2009-10 School Year
According to CNNMoney, the top programs in college football just keep getting richer bringing in more than $1 billion in profits during the 2009-10 school year. Profit for 68 schools was up 11% from the previous year.
The vast majority of the football programs in the power conferences posted profits. Only one big name school, Wake Forest University, posted a loss.
The average earnings were close to $1 million per game, or $15.8 million for the season. If anyone ever argues that college football isn't about money then you can legitimately laugh in their face.
Based on these numbers, it's a wonder why the smaller schools like Utah, Boise State, and TCU moved into more powerful conferences when they had the chance (Pac-12, Mountain West, and Big East, respectively).
Is it only a matter of time before consolidation into "super-conferences" takes place? Will it bring down the NCAA?
Don't be surprised if and when it happens.
Here are the top five programs.
James Walker is a National and Syndicated Writer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on:
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No. 5: Florida Gators
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The University of Florida, i.e. Florida Gators, come in at No. 5 on the list. Surprisingly, the Gators were looked at as the third best football program in the state of Florida for quite some time behind the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles before Steve Spurrier's arrival in 1990 and Urban Meyer's hire in 2005.
Now, the Gators rule the state, and are often competing for the SEC Championship annually. The Canes and Noles, on the other hand, struggle to compete for the ACC Championship as of late.
- Revenue: $68,715,750
- Profit: $44,258,193
No. 4: Michigan Wolverines
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Coming in at No. 4 is the school with the most all-time wins and highest winning percentage in college football history, the Michigan Wolverines.
Currently, the Wolverines are rebuilding their program under head coach Rich Rodriguez, and the Wolverines are returning to a bowl game for the first time since Rich Rod's arrival in Ann Arbor. To say he has struggled to get the Michigan program moving forward under his command would be an understatement.
Looking at the revenue and profit numbers one would think all is well with the football program.
- Revenue: $63,189,417
- Profit: $44,861,184
No. 3: Penn State Nittany Lions
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Joe Paterno has been Penn State's head coach since 1966. Coming up on his 45th year of coaching the Nittany Lions, the program he leads is No. 3 on the list.
Penn State will meet the Florida Gators in Tampa, Fla. in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. The last time the Nittany Lions faced the Gators was during Steve Spurrier's tenure in 1997 in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Gators won 21-6.
- Revenue: $70,208,584
- Profit: $50,427,645
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 2: Georgia Bulldogs
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Surprisingly, the Georgia Bulldogs come in at No. 2 on the list. The athletic department in Athens is doing something right. Perhaps someone should investigate—just kidding.
Seriously, the Bulldogs have struggled the past two seasons, and how head coach Mark Richt still has his job is a head-scratcher. Nevertheless, the football program is raking in the money, so maybe that's all that matters for Georgia.
- Revenue: $70,838,539
- Profit: $52,529,885
No. 1: Texas Longhorns
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If you had any doubt as to why the Texas Longhorns held the Big-12 in the palms of their hands this pre-season when realignment talks were being held, then just look at the money Texas commands.
The premiere program in the state of Texas and the Big-12 conference has always been a powerhouse, but when you look at the dollars they bring in it's no wonder why they get whatever they want.
Everything is bigger in Texas I guess.
- Revenue: $93,942,815
- Profit: $68,830,484
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
