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Football is one of the most popular sports to watch in America, so it’s no surprise how much money colleges can make from it. When it comes to driving in revenue, College Football in America knows how to do it.
If you’re curious as to which universities in America make the most money from NCAA football games, then look no further! In this article, we’ll be highlighting the top 5 schools that make the most money from NCAA football alone, including which teams make what amount, with data taken from USA Today’s NCAA Finances: Revenues and Expenses by school. We’ll also include 15 honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the top 5.
In 2023, the University of Georgia’s ticket sales racked up $37 million, with media rights bringing in another $20+ million. Ranked fifth out of all college football teams for highest revenue, Georgia is consistently placed as having one of the most ‘profitable’ (colleges are non-profit organizations) athletic programs.
Sanford Stadium holds a healthy 92,000 on gameday, making ticket sales a major revenue generator for Georgia. Besides the estimated $37 million earned last year from tickets, add on an extra $20 million from media rights. Those broadcast deals with ESPN and CBS extend the Bulldogs’ reach nationally, making them a more attractive proposition to sponsors. And like many schools on this list, Georgia can rely on generous donations from alumni towards maintaining its athletic program.
For the University of Michigan’s 2023 season, they acquired approximately $210 million in revenue, with a combination of media rights driving in $47+ million, contributions capturing $42+ million, and royalties, sponsorships, licensing, etc generating over $33 million. For the 2024-2025 year, Michigan’s budget is projected to be the largest in school history, hopefully creating a surplus that gets invested back into the sports program.
Alabama is one of the many Universities in the SEC to generate close to $200 million in total revenue. According to school records from 2023, ticket sales reached around $42 million, with media rights bringing in an additional $55.6 million.
Besides ticket sales and media revenue, Alabama also benefits from a strong and loyal donor network. Booster clubs, alumni, and fans contribute millions annually to support the athletic department, helping to fund scholarships and facilities. And let’s not forget corporate sponsorship and lucrative licensing deals. Alabama football has become synonymous with success, meaning that major brands want to be associated with the school.
As the second-highest total revenue driver in all of NCAA Football, the University of Texas makes close to $240 million in total revenue. To put into perspective how much money this program makes, donations alone in 2023 generated $86 million. Not only that, but sponsorships and licensing drove in another $55 million, in addition to the ticket sales racking up $63+ million. It’s rumored that part of a contributing factor to Texas Football’s success was the opening of a new basketball arena on campus.
Finally, the number 1 college that makes the most money from NCAA football is Ohio State. It is reported from 2023 that the Big 1-0 conference team makes over $250+ million in one season of football. They even achieved a $55 million surplus from their 2022-2023 season, allowing them to invest in better equipment, training facilities, etc. In the end, there’s no other university quite as big as Ohio State when it comes to making football revenue, so they go down as the highest revenue-generating school in all of NCAA football.
| # | College | Division | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | (Big 10) | $251,615,345 |
| 2 | University of Texas | (Big 12) | $239,290,648 |
| 3 | University of Alabama | (SEC) | $214,365,357 |
| 4 | University of Michigan | (Big 10) | $210,652,287 |
| 5 | University of Georgia | (SEC) | $203,048,566 |
| 6 | LSU | (SEC) | $199,309,382 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | (SEC) | $193,139,619 |
| 8 | University of Florida | (SEC) | $190,417,139 |
| 9 | Penn State | (Big 10) | $181,227,448 |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma | (Big 12) | $177,320,217 |
| 11 | University of Auburn | (SEC) | $174,568,442 |
| 12 | Michigan State | (Big 10) | $172,799,513 |
| 13 | University of Indiana | (Big 10) | $166,761,471 |
| 14 | University of Virginia | (ACC) | $161,916,231 |
| 15 | Florida State | (ACC) | $161,141,884 |
| 16 | University of Kentucky | (SEC) | $159,079,024 |
| 17 | Clemson University | (ACC) | $158,283,618 |
| 18 | University of Tennessee | (SEC) | $154,566,935 |
| 19 | University of Oregon | (Pac-12) | $153,510,555 |
| 20 | University of Arkansas | (SEC) | $152,513,755 |
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.