What Did This College Football Season Cost Universities?
These schools stand to lose the most from the COVID-19 chaos.View Gallery
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No sport or league was spared from the chaos of 2020, but the size, scope, number of teams and sprawling nature of college football made playing during the time of COVID-19 a mess. The Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 opted for conference-only play in July and by August, confusion and uncertainty reigned. The MAC and Mountain West postponed their seasons, followed closely by the Big Ten and Pac-12.
After weeks of back-and-forth, the vast majority of the big conferences and teams had agreed to play at least some games, and the season progressed clumsily toward a very uncertain postseason.
The question of attendance has been an inconsistent hodge-podge from the beginning. Some teams are playing in front of fans to a certain percentage of normal capacity. Others are playing to empty stands where local regulations prohibit live attendance. Others are playing all their games in shuttered facilities whether the state allows fans or not. One thing, however, is certain — a lot of schools are going to lose a lot of money.
In order to get an idea of what each college football team stands to lose from the chaotic 2020 season, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis from 2017, 2018 and 2019 to learn about each team’s average revenue and profits. Those numbers were used as markers for potential revenue and profits that could be lost this year.
This list includes the 30 colleges that bring in the highest average football revenues and profits — ranked from lowest to highest average profit — so you can get a look at what this season could cost them. See how much these schools stand to lose.
30. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $44,693,802
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $22,853,140
29. University of Mississippi
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $54,047,030
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $23,113,424
28. Oklahoma State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $46,720,291
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $24,694,082
27. University of Southern California
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $56,685,261
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $24,932,248
26. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $48,357,957
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $25,701,801
25. Texas Tech University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $46,925,210
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $26,171,074
24. Virginia Tech
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $55,014,799
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $27,353,753
23. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $57,821,805
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $27,452,206
Find Out: Ohio State Ranks in Top 5 Richest College Football Programs — But Who Is No. 1?
22. University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $63,228,276
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $28,455,181
21. University of Arkansas
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $71,837,589
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $30,130,033
20. University of Utah
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $56,858,821
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $30,406,913
19. Texas A&M University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $75,502,967
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $34,836,172
18. University of Iowa
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $71,895,512
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $37,985,035
17. The University of Alabama
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $104,608,030
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $39,636,390
16. University of Oregon
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $69,665,227
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $39,780,723
15. Michigan State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $72,811,869
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $41,550,930
14. University of Washington
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $81,801,180
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $42,841,217
13. University of Florida
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $85,205,128
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $45,143,730
12. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $85,448,712
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $46,360,843
11. Auburn University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $93,457,619
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $48,698,685
10. Pennsylvania State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $93,779,668
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $49,355,479
Read More: The Highest-Paid College Football Coaches of the Last 10 Years
9. University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $81,972,237
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $50,300,692
8. Louisiana State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $88,237,934
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $55,915,360
7. Ohio State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $105,215,165
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $56,892,716
6. University of Oklahoma
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $97,671,887
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $57,542,015
5. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $98,528,735
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $60,823,889
4. University of Notre Dame
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $106,593,322
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $64,499,430
3. University of Georgia
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $115,144,200
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $71,642,424
2. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $117,691,615
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $71,980,419
1. The University of Texas at Austin
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $146,794,944
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $104,209,024
More From GOBankingRates
About the Author
Andrew Lisa
Andrew Lisa has been writing professionally since 2001. An award-winning writer, Andrew was formerly one of the youngest nationally distributed columnists for the largest newspaper syndicate in the country, the Gannett News Service. He worked as the business section editor for amNewYork, the most widely distributed newspaper in Manhattan, and worked as a copy editor for TheStreet.com, a financial publication in the heart of Wall Street’s investment community in New York City.
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No sport or league was spared from the chaos of 2020, but the size, scope, number of teams and sprawling nature of college football made playing during the time of COVID-19 a mess. The Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 opted for conference-only play in July and by August, confusion and uncertainty reigned. The MAC and Mountain West postponed their seasons, followed closely by the Big Ten and Pac-12.
After weeks of back-and-forth, the vast majority of the big conferences and teams had agreed to play at least some games, and the season progressed clumsily toward a very uncertain postseason.
The question of attendance has been an inconsistent hodge-podge from the beginning. Some teams are playing in front of fans to a certain percentage of normal capacity. Others are playing to empty stands where local regulations prohibit live attendance. Others are playing all their games in shuttered facilities whether the state allows fans or not. One thing, however, is certain — a lot of schools are going to lose a lot of money.
In order to get an idea of what each college football team stands to lose from the chaotic 2020 season, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis from 2017, 2018 and 2019 to learn about each team’s average revenue and profits. Those numbers were used as markers for potential revenue and profits that could be lost this year.
This list includes the 30 colleges that bring in the highest average football revenues and profits — ranked from lowest to highest average profit — so you can get a look at what this season could cost them. See how much these schools stand to lose.
30. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $44,693,802
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $22,853,140
29. University of Mississippi
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $54,047,030
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $23,113,424
28. Oklahoma State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $46,720,291
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $24,694,082
27. University of Southern California
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $56,685,261
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $24,932,248
26. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $48,357,957
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $25,701,801
25. Texas Tech University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $46,925,210
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $26,171,074
24. Virginia Tech
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $55,014,799
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $27,353,753
23. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $57,821,805
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $27,452,206
Find Out: Ohio State Ranks in Top 5 Richest College Football Programs — But Who Is No. 1?
22. University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $63,228,276
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $28,455,181
21. University of Arkansas
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $71,837,589
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $30,130,033
20. University of Utah
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $56,858,821
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $30,406,913
19. Texas A&M University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $75,502,967
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $34,836,172
18. University of Iowa
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $71,895,512
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $37,985,035
17. The University of Alabama
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $104,608,030
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $39,636,390
16. University of Oregon
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $69,665,227
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $39,780,723
15. Michigan State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $72,811,869
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $41,550,930
14. University of Washington
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $81,801,180
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $42,841,217
13. University of Florida
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $85,205,128
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $45,143,730
12. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $85,448,712
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $46,360,843
11. Auburn University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $93,457,619
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $48,698,685
10. Pennsylvania State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $93,779,668
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $49,355,479
Read More: The Highest-Paid College Football Coaches of the Last 10 Years
9. University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $81,972,237
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $50,300,692
8. Louisiana State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $88,237,934
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $55,915,360
7. Ohio State University
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $105,215,165
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $56,892,716
6. University of Oklahoma
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $97,671,887
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $57,542,015
5. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $98,528,735
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $60,823,889
4. University of Notre Dame
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $106,593,322
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $64,499,430
3. University of Georgia
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $115,144,200
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $71,642,424
2. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $117,691,615
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $71,980,419
1. The University of Texas at Austin
- Three-Year Average Total Football Revenue: $146,794,944
- Three-Year Average Profit from Football: $104,209,024
More From GOBankingRates
About the Author
Andrew Lisa
Andrew Lisa has been writing professionally since 2001. An award-winning writer, Andrew was formerly one of the youngest nationally distributed columnists for the largest newspaper syndicate in the country, the Gannett News Service. He worked as the business section editor for amNewYork, the most widely distributed newspaper in Manhattan, and worked as a copy editor for TheStreet.com, a financial publication in the heart of Wall Street’s investment community in New York City.