College Football: Ranking FBS Athletic Departments by Net Revenue for 2009-10

USA Today's website offers up a fascinating database regarding NCAA athletic programs' revenues and expenditures since the 2004-05 academic year.

The catalog features 99 FBS athletic departments' income and expenses for six academic years, and though 21 members of college football's highest level are not included (most are private universities), the results are truly intriguing.

Beyond the totals for money-in and money-out, the database (which was contrived by USA Today submitting public-records requests to the institutions listed) further breaks each category into an interesting array of line-item sub-categories.

The revenue side includes money generated by ticket sales, student fees, direct institutional support, conference monies and merchandising royalties (and more), while the expenditure side features line-items such as support staff, athletic student aid, travel, recruiting, spirit groups, coaching salaries, etc.

The following slideshow utilizes the data presented within the database to rank the 99 included FBS schools, in terms of athletic department net revenue (operating revenue less operating expenses) for the 2009-10 academic year.

Though it would also be appealing to present a list of who brings in the most money (which is Texas with over $143 million versus Arkansas State who comes in at No. 99 with total revenue of under $10 million), gross income only tells half the story.

In truth, it takes a lot more cash to run the athletic department at Ohio State than it does at Idaho, but you take the discussion to an entirely different plane when you start talking about how much money they clear above expenses (Ohio State came out $434,422 ahead in 2009-10, while Idaho cleared $24,651).

These stats obviously don't tell the whole story, but they sure are food for thought, especially given the current discussions of money-driven realignment.

99. North Texas

Gross Operating Revenue    

$10,201,988.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$17,105,046.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($6,903,058.00)

North Texas' athletic department operated at a loss of nearly seven million dollars during the 2009-10 academic year.

49 percent of their revenue came via student fees.

 

98. Arkansas State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$9,478,903.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$13,332,956.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($3,854,956.00)

 

97. UNLV

Gross Operating Revenue    

$56,496,233.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$59,143,059.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($2,646,826.00)

 

96. Marshall

Gross Operating Revenue    

$23,067,735.00

Less Operating Expenses   

 -$25,678,598.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($2,610,863.00)

 

95. Cincinnati

Gross Operating Revenue    

$40,920,893.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$43,478,383.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($2,557,490.00)

32 percent of Cincinnati's revenue came via direct institutional support.

94. New Mexico State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$25,433,613.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$26,994,899.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($1,561,286.00)

 

93. Arizona State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$56,505,165.00

Less Operating Expenses   

-$57,905,546.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($1,400,381.00)

 

92. Utah

Gross Operating Revenue    

$30,882,390.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$31,742,827.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($860,437.00)

 

91. Nevada

Gross Operating Revenue    

$23,157,140.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$23,988,811.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($831,671.00)

 

90. Florida State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$74,402,269.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$75,209,181.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($806,912.00)

31 percent of Florida State's revenue in 2009-10 came via contributions ($23 million).

 

89. Missouri

Gross Operating Revenue    

$61,052,303.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$61,766,109.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($713,806.00)

33 percent of Missouri's revenue in 2009-10 came via ticket sales ($20 million).

88. FIU

Gross Operating Revenue    

$22,004,418.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$22,509,591.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($505,173.00)

71 percent of FlU's revenue in 2009-10 came via student fees ($15.5 million).

87. San Jose State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$20,333,059.00

Less Operating Expenses   

 -$20,785,707.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($452,648.00)

 

86. Utah State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$19,201,898.00

Less Operating Expenses   

 -$19,344,112.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($142,214.00)

35 percent of Utah State's revenue in 2009-10 came via direct institutional support ($6.7 million).

85. Air Force

Gross Operating Revenue    

$34,951,251.00

Less Operating Expenses   

 -$35,081,470.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($130,219.00)

63 percent of Air Force's revenue in 2009-10 came via direct government support ($22 million).

84. Louisiana-Lafayette

Gross Operating Revenue    

$12,280,070.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$12,357,621.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($77,551.00)

53 percent of ULL's revenue in 2009-10 came via direct institutional support ($6.5 million).

83. Toledo

Gross Operating Revenue    

$19,966,412.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$20,021,956.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($55,544.00)

49 percent of Toledo's revenue in 2009-10 came via student fees ($9.8 million).

82. San Diego State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$32,582,576.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$32,629,652.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($47,076.00)

 

81. Fresno State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$26,648,661.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$26,690,524.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($41,863.00)

 

80. New Mexico

Gross Operating Revenue    

$37,330,784.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$37,331,322.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

($538.00)

 

79. Western Kentucky

Gross Operating Revenue    

$23,243,348.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$23,243,348.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

Western Kentucky is the first of 11 athletic programs that reported exactly equal amounts of revenue and expenses for the 2009-10 academic year.

78. UCLA

Gross Operating Revenue    

$61,875,531.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$61,875,531.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

77. Troy

Gross Operating Revenue    

$15,783,593.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$15,783,593.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

50 percent of Troy's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($7.7 million).

76. Rutgers

Gross Operating Revenue    

$64,203,255.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$64,203,255.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

75. Ole Miss

Gross Operating Revenue    

$45,737,904.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$45,737,904.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

43 percent of Ole Miss' revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via NCAA/conference distributions, including all tournament revenues ($19.8 million).

74. Minnesota

Gross Operating Revenue    

$78,706,900.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$78.706,000.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

73. Middle Tennessee State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$20,800,017.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$20,800,17.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

72. Memphis

Gross Operating Revenue    

$39,520,842.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$39,520,842.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

71. Maryland

Gross Operating Revenue    

$54,661,992.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$54,661,992.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

70. Kent State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$19,446,680.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$19,446,680.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

54 percent of Kent State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($10.5 million).

69. Houston

Gross Operating Revenue    

$33,034,483.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$33,034,483.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$0.00

 

68. California

Gross Operating Revenue    

$69,345,931.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$69,345,912.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$19.00

Cal is the first of 68 institutions to show an athletics department profit for the 2009-10 academic year.

 

67. Idaho

Gross Operating Revenue    

$15,683,183.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$15,658,532.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$24,651.00

 

66. Louisiana-Monroe

Gross Operating Revenue    

$10,752,992.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$10,700,417.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$52,575.00

 

65. UTEP

Gross Operating Revenue    

$26,694,008.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$26,614,312.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$79,696.00

 

64. Southern Mississippi

Gross Operating Revenue    

$19,731,333.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$19,641,550.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$89,783.00

 

63. USF

Gross Operating Revenue    

$39,190,939.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$39,088,660.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$102,279.00

 

62. Louisiana Tech

Gross Operating Revenue    

$16,587,40.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$16,481,887.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$105,653.00

40 percent of LA Tech's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($6.6 million).

61. Connecticut

Gross Operating Revenue    

$58,505,719.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$58,379,090.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$126,629.00

 

60. Georgia Tech

Gross Operating Revenue    

$55,359,742.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$55,221,082.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$138,660.00

 

59. North Carolina

Gross Operating Revenue    

$72,825,407.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$72,685,335.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$140,072.00

32 percent of North Carolina's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($23.2 million).

58. Iowa State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$46,871,554.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$46,656,014.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$215,540.00

28 percent of Iowa State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($13 million).

57. Boise State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$36,932,392.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$36,655,700.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$276,692,00

 

56. Northern Illinois

Gross Operating Revenue    

$22,210,800.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$21,899,024.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$317,776.00

37 percent of Northern Illinois' revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($8.3 million).

55. Miami OH

Gross Operating Revenue    

$25,996,018.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$25,604,474.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$391,544.00

53 percent of Miami of Ohio's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($13.7 million).

54. UAB

Gross Operating Revenue    

$24,273,967.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$23,869,180.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$404,787.00

43 percent of UAB's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($10.5 million).

53. Ohio State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$123,174,176.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$122,739,754.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$434,422.00

32 percent of Ohio State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($39.5 million).

52. Wyoming

Gross Operating Revenue    

$26,979,594.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$26,524,851.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$454,743.00

45 percent of Wyoming's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($45 million).

51. Western Michigan

Gross Operating Revenue    

$23,761,393.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$23,233,399.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$527,994.00

58 percent of Western Michigan's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($13.8 million).

50. Central Michigan

Gross Operating Revenue    

$24,703,101.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$24,104,399.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$598,402.00

66 percent of Central Michigan's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($16.4 million).

49. Kentucky

Gross Operating Revenue    

$79,700,856.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$79,002,986.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$697,870.00

34 percent of Kentucky's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($27.2 million).

48. Clemson

Gross Operating Revenue    

$57,562,999.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$56,780,518.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$782,481.00

34 percent of Clemson's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($19.8 million).

47. UCF

Gross Operating Revenue    

$40,063,558.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$39,280,770

Equals Net Revenue                      

$782,783.00

43 percent of UCF's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($17.4 million).

46. Colorado

Gross Operating Revenue    

$49,521,517.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$48,590,915.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$930,602.00

45. Bowling Green

Gross Operating Revenue    

$18,850,778.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$17,850,240.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,000,538.00

50 percent of Bowling Green's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($9.4 million).

44. Ohio

Gross Operating Revenue    

$23,905,953.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$22,875,238.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,030,715.00

69 percent of Ohio's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($16.4 million).

43. FAU

Gross Operating Revenue    

$16,284,618.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$15,208,667.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,075,951.00

54 percent of FAU's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($8.8 million).

42. Colorado State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$26,552,383.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$25,355,036.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,197,347.00

 

41. Arizona

Gross Operating Revenue    

$58,118,950.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$56,919,148.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,199,802.00

 

40. Hawaii

Gross Operating Revenue    

$36,239,991.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$34,946,092.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,293,899.00

 

39. Washington State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$39,352,096.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$38,045,842.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,306,254.00

 

38. Kansas

Gross Operating Revenue    

$70,548,520.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$69,241,375.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,307,145.00

 

37. South Carolina

Gross Operating Revenue    

$79,879,193.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$78,295,030.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,584,163.00

 

36. Eastern Michigan

Gross Operating Revenue    

$26,270,721.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$24,635,531.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,635,190.00

58 percent of Eastern Michigan's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($15.3 million).

35. Auburn

Gross Operating Revenue    

$92,611,558.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$90,908,902.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,702,656.00

 

34. Nebraska

Gross Operating Revenue    

$73,483,733.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$71,783,068.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,745,665.00

42 percent of Nebraska's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($31.5 million).

33. East Carolina

Gross Operating Revenue    

$32,280,456.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$30,473,691.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,806,765.00

 

32. Mississippi State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$38,127,591.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$36,265,186.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$1,862,405.00

48 percent of Mississippi State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via NCAA/conference distributions, including all tournament revenues ($18.2 million).

31. Louisville

Gross Operating Revenue    

$63,487,395.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$61,257,743.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$2,229,652.00

 

30. Washington

Gross Operating Revenue    

$64,034,410.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$61,640,598.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$2,393,812.00

 

29. Texas Tech

Gross Operating Revenue    

$61,974,623.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$59,341,489.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$2,633,134.00

38 percent of Texas Tech's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($23.6 million).

28. Ball State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$20,132,632.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$17,347,944.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$2,784,688.00

45 percent of Ball State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via student fees ($9.2 million).

27. Oregon State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$55,613,345.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$52,669,946.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$2,943,399.00

 

26. Illinois

Gross Operating Revenue    

$75,189,489.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$71,957,222.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,232,267.00

 

25. Purdue

Gross Operating Revenue    

$61,653,561.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$58,365,143.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,288,418.00

 

24. Indiana

Gross Operating Revenue    

$69,287,811.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$65,796,415.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,491,396.00

 

23. NC State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$49,459,002.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$45,880,314.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,578,688.00

37 percent of NC State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($18.3 million).

22. Wisconsin

Gross Operating Revenue    

$96,038,912.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$93,259,330.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,779,582.00

 

21. Army

Gross Operating Revenue    

$29,664,348.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$25,784,801.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$3,879,547.00

33 percent of Army's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct state or other government support ($10 million).

20. Tennessee

Gross Operating Revenue    

$115,729,599.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$111,670,619.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$4,058,980.00

 

19. Michigan State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$83,545,892.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$78,162,447.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$5,383,445.00

 

18. West Virginia

Gross Operating Revenue    

$62,030,104.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$56,607,917.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$5,422,187.00

 

17. Arkansas

Gross Operating Revenue    

$78,072,620.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$71,801,905.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$6,270,715.00

42 percent of Arkansas' revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($32.8 million).

16. Texas A&M

Gross Operating Revenue    

$82,744,133.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$75,941,926.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$6,832,207.00

39 percent of Texas A&M's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($32.4 million).

15. Virginia Tech

Gross Operating Revenue    

$63,313,464.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$55,783,633.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$7,874,831.00

 

14. Buffalo

Gross Operating Revenue    

$25,385,009.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$16,973,585.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$8,411,424.00

39 percent of Buffalo's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via direct institutional support ($10 million).

13. LSU

Gross Operating Revenue    

$111,030,795.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$102,326,769.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$8,704,026.00

34 percent of LSU's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($38.2 million).

12. Oklahoma

Gross Operating Revenue    

$98,512,827.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$87,678,199.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$10,834,628.00

35 percent of Oklahoma's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($38.4 million).

11. Virginia

Gross Operating Revenue    

$81,841,633.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$70,870,412.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$10,971,221.00

41 percent of Virginia's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($33.9 million).

10. Kansas State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$53,436,790.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$42,337,682.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$11,099,108.00

30 percent of Kansas State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($16.3 million).

9. Florida

Gross Operating Revenue    

$117,104,407.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$105,824,376.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$11,280,031.00

33 percent of Florida's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($39.3 million).

8. Georgia

Gross Operating Revenue    

$89,735,934.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$77,250,831.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$12,485,103.00

30 percent of Georgia's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($27.3 million).

7. Texas

Gross Operating Revenue    

$143,555,354.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$130.436,534.00

Net Revenue                      

$13,118,820.00

39 percent of Texas' revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($56.7 million).

6. Iowa

Gross Operating Revenue    

$88,735,093.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$74,438,196.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$14,296,807.00

30 percent of Iowa's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($26.7 million).

5. Michigan

Gross Operating Revenue    

$106,874,031.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$89,133,850.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$17,740,181.00

39 percent of Michigan's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($41.7 million).

4. Penn State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$106,614,724.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$88,041,921.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$18,572,803.00

39 percent of Penn State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via ticket sales ($41.8 million).

3. Oklahoma State

Gross Operating Revenue    

$106,362,128.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$83,748,207.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$22,613,921.00

48 percent of Oklahoma State's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($51.8 million).

2. Alabama

Gross Operating Revenue    

$130,542,153.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$98,961,214.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$31,580,939.00

 

1. Oregon

Gross Operating Revenue    

$122,394,483.00

Less Operating Expenses    

-$77,856,232.00

Equals Net Revenue                      

$44,538,251.00

60 percent of Oregon's revenue from the 2009-10 academic year came via contributions ($73.8 million).