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USA Today
21 minutes ago
- Business
- USA Today
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips asked about possible departures of Clemson, Florida State
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips believes the league is on solid ground following settlements with Clemson and Florida State—and insists both programs are satisfied with how things turned out. Clemson emerged with everything it sought, including access to its full media rights, a favorable exit fee, and an updated brand initiative policy. At Tuesday's Commissioner's Forum during ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, Phillips said the process was handled fairly and doesn't foresee future friction. 'If you want to earn more money, then you're going to need to invest,' Phillips said. 'Go perform in football and basketball, draw viewership, schedule strong non-conference games—those are the factors that will separate schools.' Phillips referenced Clemson's upcoming season opener against LSU as a key example of how schools can generate additional revenue through visibility and competitive matchups. He emphasized that everyone receives a base share of viewership revenue, but bonuses are tied to performance metrics and audience draw. 'It may not fit every league, but it was the right reconciliation for our league,' Phillips said of the ACC's updated model. He also shot down concerns that Clemson or Florida State might return with further demands. According to Phillips, both schools were transparent about what they wanted, and the league responded in a way that left everyone content. 'Since March, I've not felt stronger about this league than I do right now,' he said. 'It's not hyperbole. With record revenue distribution, national championships, and rising football success, we're in a great position moving forward.' Financially, the ACC is trending upward. The league recently reported its highest gross revenue ever—over $711 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year. That marked a 56% jump over five years, and per-school payouts averaged $45 million, also a record. The ACC ranked among the top three power conferences in both total revenue and average school distribution. 'People said a lot of things about the league,' Phillips said, 'but we never wavered. We stayed steady and exercised our partnership with ESPN, which secures our platform into the next decade.' Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
UPI
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- UPI
Ex-Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher joins ACC Network
1 of 5 | Former Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher led the Seminoles to an 83-23 record from 2010 through 2017. File Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- Former Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher will join the ACC Network as an analyst during the 2025 season, the network announced Tuesday. He will appear weekly on Saturdays on ACC Huddle. "I'm looking forward to joining ACC Network and the Huddle team this season," Fisher said in a statement to ESPN. "I've always had tremendous respect for this conference, and I'm looking forward to breaking down the action each week with such a talented group." Fisher, 59, posted a 128-48 record over 14 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including eight seasons at Florida State and six at Texas A&M. Texas A&M fired Fisher in November 2023 after he led the Aggies to a 45-25 record from 2018 through 2023. Fisher received a record $75 million buyout as part of his dismissal. The 2025 season premiere of ACC Huddle will air Aug. 30.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Who Wore It Best? Greatest College Football Players by Jersey Number, 1-25
You're at a sports bar with a group of friends when someone asks: who is the greatest college football player to ever wear No. 34? How do you decide between six Hall of Fame running backs — all of whom topped 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns during their college careers? That's the debate we faced when picking the greatest college football players by jersey number, from No. 1 to No. 99 (CFB players were first allowed to wear No. 0 starting in 2020). This list is based on how players performed during their college careers. Factors taken into consideration include prestigious accolades, like the Heisman Trophy and All-American selections, as well as statistics and winning percentage. That said, here's a look at the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 1-25. No. 1: Anthony Carter, WR, Michigan One of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football history, Carter was a three-time All-American at Michigan. He finished his historic college career with 161 receptions for 3,076 yards and 37 receiving touchdowns, all of which were program records when he graduated. Carter was named the Big Ten Conference MVP during his senior season and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race behind Herschel Walker, John Elway and Eric Dickerson. Honorable mentions: Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt), Percy Harvin (Florida), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) No. 2: Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan Selecting the greatest college player to wear No. 2 was no easy task. While Cam Newton (Auburn), Deion Sanders (Florida State) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) all have legitimate cases, in the end, Woodson was simply too dominant not to hold the title of the best college player to don No. 2. The former Michigan standout was the first defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy after putting together one of the most impressive individual seasons in college football history in 1997. He also won the Thorpe Award, the Bednarik Award, and the Walter Camp Award after leading the Wolverines to an undefeated regular season and a win against Washington State in the Rose Bowl that earned the Wolverines a share of the national title. Honorable mentions: Cam Newton (Auburn), Deion Sanders (Florida State), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) No. 3: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC Johnson put together one of the greatest two-year spans for a wide receiver in college football history. After beginning his career at West Los Angeles College, he transferred to USC and had back-to-back All-American campaigns for the Trojans. In just 31 career games, Johnson hauled in 168 catches for 2,796 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. He was named the MVP of the 1995 Cotton Bowl and the MVP of the 1996 Rose Bowl Game before becoming the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He was just the third wide receiver ever to be selected with the top pick in the draft. Honorable mentions: Carson Palmer (USC), Joe Montana (Notre Dame) No. 4. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson Not only was Watson the best college football player to wear No. 4, but he also has a case as the greatest player to wear a Clemson jersey. In 35 career starts, Watson went 32-3, leading the Tigers to back-to-back 14-1 seasons in 2015 and 2016. He led Clemson to a victory over Alabama in the 2017 national championship, the program's first national title since 1981. Watson finished his career at Clemson with 10,168 passing yards and 161 total touchdowns. Honorable mentions: Brett Favre (Southern Miss), Terence Newman (Kansas State), Champ Bailey (Georgia) No. 5: Reggie Bush, RB, USC Arguably the most electric player in college football history, Bush tormented opposing defenses during his three seasons at USC from 2003-05. He was a two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American, as well as the winner of the 2005 Heisman Trophy. Known as an elite rushing, receiving and special teams threat, Bush finished his college career with 6,551 yards and 42 total touchdowns. Honorable mentions: Paul Hornung (Notre Dame), Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Jameis Winston (Florida State) No. 6: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma Oklahoma is one of the top programs in college football history, currently ranking No. 6 on the all-time wins list, but an argument can be made that Mayfield is the best of the best when it comes to the top players in program history. Not only was Mayfield a walk-on who threw for 12,000-plus yards in his three seasons as a starter, but Mayfield left Oklahoma with a 33-6 record as a starter en route to being named a three-time All-American and the winner of the 2017 Heisman Trophy, the first walk-on player to win the award. Honorable mentions: Robbie Bosco (BYU), DeVonta Smith (Alabama) No. 7: Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida Deciding on the best college player to wear No. 7 was no easy task, especially when the likes of John Elway, Michael Vick and Eric Crouch were all in the running. In the end, Wuerffel, who led the nation in touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons and was the recipient of the 1996 Heisman Trophy, stood out above the rest. Wuerffel was the face of a Florida football program that finished 45-6 in a four-year span with him under center. He finished his college career with 10,875 passing yards and 114 passing touchdowns while leading Florida to its first national title in 1996. Honorable mentions: Eric Crouch (Nebraska), John Elway (Stanford), Michael Vick (Virginia Tech) No. 8: Davey O'Brien, QB, TCU When you are the namesake for the award given annually to the top quarterback in college football, you rightfully deserve a spot on this list. O'Brien starred at TCU from 1936-38, putting together one of the greatest seasons in the sport's history at the time. He threw for 1,457 yards during the 1938 season, which was a Southwest Conference passing record, and led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated campaign and a national title. He became the first player in college football history to win both the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award during the same year. Honorable mentions: Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Marcus Mariota (Oregon) No. 9: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU Burrow, who began his career at Ohio State, transferred to LSU ahead of the 2018 campaign and then proceeded to put together one of the greatest single-season performances by a quarterback in college football history. He finished the 2019 campaign with 5,671 passing yards and 65 total touchdowns, which was an FBS single-season record. But Burrow's 2019 season went beyond the numbers he put up. The former LSU standout led the Tigers to a perfect 15-0 record and a dominant win over Clemson in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Honorable mentions: Steve McNair (Alcorn State) No. 10: Vince Young, QB, Texas While an argument can be made that Burrow put together the single-greatest season in college football history, another argument can be made that Young had the greatest single game in the sport's history. The former Texas standout put the Longhorns on his back during the memorable 2006 Rose Bowl game, accounting for an eye-popping 467 total yards and three touchdowns in a 41-38 victory over USC. Young finished his collegiate career with 6,040 passing yards and 44 passing touchdowns, in addition to 3,127 rushing yards and 37 scores on the ground. He was a consensus All-American during the 2005 season, taking home the Manning Award, Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award, while, of course, leading the Longhorns to the BCS national title. Honorable mentions: Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Troy Smith (Ohio State) No. 11: Matt Leinart, QB, USC The two-time All-American and winner of the 2004 Heisman Trophy, Leinart was – simply put – a winner. He finished his career at USC with a 37-2 record as a starter while leading the Trojans to an undefeated season during his junior year and a national championship in 2004. Leinart finished his college career completing 64.8% of his passes for 10,693 yards and 99 touchdowns, leaving USC as the school's all-time leader in career touchdown passes and completion percentage. His No. 11 is retired by the school, and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Honorable mentions: LaVar Arrington (Penn State), Steve Spurrier (Florida), Andre Ware (Houston) No. 12: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado Choosing between Hunter, Roger Staubach and Andrew Luck for the greatest college football player to wear No. 12 was a tall task, but when taking into account what role Hunter had in revolutionizing the game and showing what can be done as a standout on both sides of the ball, he's the pick here. Hunter, a two-time All-American and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, recorded 98 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense, in addition to recording 36 tackles and four interceptions on defense while locking down opposing No. 1 wide receivers. Hunter is the first player in college football history to win both the Bednarik Award (for the best defensive player in the country) and the Biletnikoff Award (for the best wide receiver of the year). He defines the term "generational talent." Honorable mentions: Andrew Luck (Stanford), Roger Staubach (Navy), Charles White (USC) No. 13: Dan Marino, QB, Pitt In addition to his elite arm talent and ability to perform his best in big games, Marino was a downright winner during his time at Pitt. He owned a 33-3 record as Pitt's starting quarterback from 1979-1982 and threw for at least 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in four straight seasons. Marino finished his college career with more than 8,500 passing yards and 79 passing touchdowns. He was a first-team All-American and finished in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting in both 1981 and 1982. Honorable mentions: Gino Torretta (Miami), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), Caleb Williams (USC) No. 14: Ty Detmer, QB, BYU How special was Detmer during his time under center at BYU? Just take a look at the stats, and you'll see that the former Cougar standout broke more than 50 NCAA passing records by the time his collegiate career was all said and done. Detmer finished his career with 15,301 passing yards, 121 touchdown passes and a 162.7 passer rating, all of which were NCAA records at the time. His 1990 campaign was considered one of the greatest individual seasons in the sport's history. Detmer threw for 5,188 yards and 41 touchdowns that season en route to being named the Heisman Trophy winner. Honorable mentions: Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) No. 15: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida One of the most accomplished players in college football history, Tebow enjoyed a standout career at Florida, helping lead the Gators to the 2006 and 2008 BCS national championships. He finished his college career with 9,286 passing yards and 88 passing touchdowns, in addition to 2,947 rushing yards and an additional 57 rushing scores. Tebow was a three-time All-American and the recipient of the 2007 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player in college football history to win the award as a sophomore. He finished his career with a 35-6 record as a starter at Florida. Honorable mentions: Tommie Frazier (Nebraska), Drew Brees (Purdue) No. 16: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee Manning starred at Tennessee from 1994-97 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He holds multiple program records, including most passing yards, touchdowns and completions. Manning's 1997 season was considered one of the greatest seasons in college football history, as the All-American QB threw for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading the Volunteers to an 11-2 record. That season, Manning won the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award, while also finishing runner-up to Woodson in the 1997 Heisman Trophy voting. Honorable mentions: Jim Plunkett (Stanford), Chris Weinke (Florida State), Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) No. 17: Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State Ward was an exceptional athlete, starring at quarterback for Florida State from 1990-93 while also playing for the Seminoles men's basketball team. His best season came in 1993 when he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading FSU to its first national championship. Ward was named the recipient of the Heisman Trophy that season, winning by one of the largest margins in the history of Heisman balloting. Instead of taking his talents to the NFL, Ward opted to enter the 1994 NBA Draft, where he was a first-round pick of the New York Knicks and went on to enjoy a successful 10-year basketball career. Honorable mentions: Philip Rivers (NC State), Bobby Dodd (Tennessee) No. 18: Archie Manning, QB, Ole Miss The second Manning to appear on this list, Archie Manning was a star at Ole Miss from 1968-70. A true dual-threat QB, Archie Manning threw for 4,752 yards and 31 touchdowns, while also adding 823 rushing yards and 25 rushing scores during his three years as a starter. He finished in the top four of Heisman Trophy voting in both 1969 and 1970. The speed limit on the University of Mississippi campus is 18 miles per hour in honor of Manning's No. 18 jersey. Honorable mentions: Jason White (Oklahoma), Roman Gabriel (NC State), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State) No. 19: Eric Dickerson, RB, SMU The face of the Pony Express, Dickerson ran all over opposing defenses during his time at SMU. He finished his career with 4,450 yards rushing on 790 carries, breaking the previous Southwest Conference record set by former Texas great Earl Campbell. Dickerson was a two-time All-American and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in his senior year behind Herschel Walker and Elway. His No. 19 was retired by SMU. Honorable mentions: Rashaan Salaam (Colorado) No. 20: Earl Campbell, RB, Texas Considered one of the greatest running backs in college football history, Campbell left his mark at Texas, rushing for a jaw-dropping 4,443 yards and 40 touchdowns during his four seasons in Austin. A bruising running back, Campbell was considered one of the most feared backs in the sport's history. He led the nation in rushing during his senior season, totaling an eye-popping 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns en route to winning the 1977 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Longhorn to win college football's most prestigious award. Honorable mentions: Johnny Rodgers (Nebraska), Billy Sims (Oklahoma), Ed Reed (Miami) No. 21: Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State Sanders is widely considered one of the greatest running backs in college football history. His elusiveness and ability to evade tackles were simply unmatched. During his three years at Oklahoma State, Sanders totaled 3,556 rushing yards and 48 rushing touchdowns, but it was his junior season that stood out above the rest. He set more than 30 NCAA rushing records and still holds the mark for most rushing yards in a season (2,628), most rushing touchdowns in a season (37) and most games with 300-plus rushing yards in a season (four). Sanders was named the winner of the 1988 Heisman Trophy, and his No. 21 is retired by the school. Honorable mentions: Desmond Howard (Michigan), Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) No. 22: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama Ingram had an impressive three-year college career at Alabama, rushing for more than 3,300 yards and 42 touchdowns while helping lead the Crimson Tide to a combined 36-5 record from 2008-2010. His 2009 campaign was among the best in program history, rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns while helping lead Alabama to a national championship. He was named the winner of the 2009 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Alabama player to win the award. Honorable mentions: Doug Flutie (Boston College), Emmitt Smith (Florida) No. 23: Leroy Keyes, CB/RB, Purdue Before Hunter, there was Keyes, a two-way standout at Purdue during the late 1960s. Keyes totaled more than 2,000 rushing yards, 1,204 receiving yards and 44 total touchdowns despite only starting for two years on offense after switching from the defensive side of the ball. He finished in the top three in Heisman voting in both his junior and senior seasons. Honorable mentions: Jim Swink (TCU), Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) No. 24: Nile Kinnick, HB, Iowa Kinnick did a little bit of everything on the gridiron. Considered the greatest player to ever wear an Iowa jersey, Kinnick contributed as a quarterback, halfback, kicker, punter and defensive back for Iowa during the late 1930s. He remains the only player from Iowa to win the Heisman Trophy after putting together a memorable 1939 season where he contributed to nearly 70% of the Hawkeyes' total offensive production. He helped lead Iowa to a 6-1-1 record during that season and was responsible for 16 of the team's 19 touchdowns that season. Iowa's stadium, Kinnick Stadium, is named after him to this day and is the only college football stadium named after a Heisman Trophy winner. Honorable mentions: Pete Dawkins (Army), Kevin Smith (UCF), Joe Washington (Oklahoma) No. 25: Fred Biletnikoff, WR, Florida State The Fred Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the most outstanding receiver in college football. With that, it's only fitting that the former Florida State wide receiver standout holds a spot on this list. Biletnikoff wasn't known as the fastest or biggest player on the field, but his ability to make outstanding catches was second-to-none. Not only did he shine on the offensive side of the ball, but Biletnikoff was a standout on defense as well during his junior season. The former Seminole led the nation in receiving yards (1,179) and receiving touchdowns (15) as a senior while earning consensus All-American honors, the first player in Florida State football history to do so. Honorable mentions: Tommy McDonald (Oklahoma), Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Rocket Ismail (Notre Dame) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
How much would college football teams sell for? Texas leads our Power 4 valuation rankings
Editor's note: This article is part of our Rankings & Tiers series, an evaluation across sport about the key players, front offices, teams, franchises and much more. How much would it take to buy your favorite college football program? As much as college football has drifted toward professionalization, one major difference remains: NCAA teams are not for sale. Not yet, at least. But private equity explorations by schools like Florida State and Boise State led The Athletic to consider a future where the Seminoles and Broncos could be bought and sold, just like the Boston Celtics or Tampa Bay Rays. Advertisement We approached the hypothetical question with a methodology that was part art, part science. We used real-life pro transactions to gauge purchase prices relative to a team's revenue over the past three available years of data. NFL and NBA sales guided our ratios in the SEC and Big Ten, while the MLB and NHL were our rough benchmarks in the ACC and Big 12. For each school in a Power 4 conference (plus Notre Dame), we factored in everything from prestige and championships to facility renovations, population trends and realignment scenarios. That means treating Notre Dame more like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston College more like the Kansas City Royals. Because athletic departments isolate and report football revenue differently, our numbers are squishy. Actual transactions are much more complicated than what we did with a spreadsheet or what you see on 'Shark Tank.' But the process is imperfect in the real world, too. What a team sells for (our objective with this story) is not the same as a team's actual value (a story for another day). Buyers routinely pay a premium because there are only so many opportunities to own a sports team. That sentiment would be even stronger in college football, where pre-established allegiances and irrational decisions already run deeper. Though Texas A&M just missed our $1 billion club, it's easy to envision a few Aggies boosters artificially boosting the price to brag about spending 10 figures on their team. Or some Michigan fan paying extra to make sure the Wolverines out-priced Ohio State. Do not take our numbers to the bank, literally or metaphorically. Instead, consider this a fun attempt at blending back-of-the-envelope math with common sense to price college programs like their professional peers — an exercise that's theoretical for now … but might not be much longer. Advertisement Three-year average football revenue: $183 million The Longhorns routinely lead the country in revenue and were the only team to top $200 million in the most recent financial reports. No program came within $25 million of Texas in either of the past two years. The Longhorns haven't won a national title since 2005 but made the College Football Playoff semifinals each of the past two seasons and are among this preseason's top championship contenders. Add in the SEC brand, and Texas looks like the safest investment. Our price tag makes the Longhorns comparable to the 2018 sale of the Carolina Panthers (almost $2.3 billion). Average football revenue: $147 million Though the Bulldogs are second in average revenue and an obvious heavyweight with only five losing seasons in the past 50 years, we still paused at the price and ranking our numbers suggested. Should we really value Georgia higher than the next three teams bunched together on our list? We ultimately justified this placement with demographics. Georgia's population has doubled since 1980, and only three states added more residents from 2020-24, according to the U.S. Census. That overall trend, plus the state's explosion into a top-four football talent producer and Georgia unlocking its potential as a perennial national power under Kirby Smart, gave the Bulldogs the edge as a long-term play. Average football revenue: $116 million Our initial numbers would have put the Buckeyes sixth at $1.5 billion, but that's where the art part of this exercise enters the mix. Ohio State's income was weighed down by a 2023 season with only six home games, and it takes time for a spike from last season's national championship run to show up on the balance sheet. The Buckeyes are also the sport's most recession-proof program with only one losing season in the past 35 years. Advertisement Those factors led us to bump Ohio State here. Average football revenue: $143 million The income doesn't reflect a jump in TV revenue thanks to the contract extension the Irish landed with NBC in 2023; it's large enough to put Notre Dame's paydays within striking distance of SEC/Big Ten programs. Last year's Playoff run helps, too, not that we need to justify the lofty price tag for a team known for putting flakes of real gold on its helmets. Average football revenue: $141 million Michigan boasts the largest stadium and, according to our previous analysis, the largest fan base, too. So why are the Wolverines behind the rival Buckeyes? Their on-field product has been much more inconsistent (five unranked seasons since 2013), and they compete with Michigan State for the share of a smaller state with a weaker population growth. Michigan feels like a slightly riskier bet than Ohio State. Average football revenue: $133 million Alabama was the final team to earn our top revenue multiplier — 13x reported revenue — thanks to the tradition and prestige that predated Nick Saban and will continue to survive after him. Those factors mitigate the risks if the program regresses under Kalen DeBoer (or any of his successors, as we consider the long-term view). Our price puts the Crimson Tide on par with the 2024 sale of the Baltimore Orioles ($1.725 billion) or the expected price tag for the Rays ($1.7 billion). Average football revenue: $135 million Though Oklahoma has spent decades as the most stable program outside of Ohio State, its dominance came in the Big Eight/12, not the SEC. Instead of being one of two unquestioned juggernauts, the Sooners are in danger of being lost in the shuffle (like they were last year). For those reasons, we slotted Oklahoma behind Alabama despite its slightly higher revenue. Advertisement Average football revenue: $71.3 million We took the biggest liberty here. Revenue figures alone would put the Trojans' value in the Nebraska-Wisconsin range ($800 million to $900 million). But those numbers don't reflect the fact that they're adding millions of dollars annually by shedding Pac-12 payouts and receiving full shares from the Big Ten. Add in brand power — where the Trojans are more like Alabama or Oklahoma historically — plus the value of Los Angeles, and this seemed like a reasonable landing spot. Average football revenue: $124.9 million Texas, Notre Dame and Michigan are the only programs that reported more football revenue than Tennessee in the last fiscal year. The Volunteers, however, were outside the top 12 in some pre-pandemic accounting and have a recent history that we can politely call 'volatile.' This price puts them slightly behind the 2023 valuation of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. Average football revenue: $102.9 million Although we'd value the Tigers somewhere below the Texas-Alabama tier but above the Tennessees and Oklahomas, their average football revenue was only 13th nationally. LSU's overall athletic department revenue was in the 8-10 range, which gave us more confidence in our ranking and price. Average football revenue: $109.5 million Penn State is working on upgrading Beaver Stadium with better amenities and a new club area. The renovation will cost up to $700 million but will pay off with increased revenue streams in our scenario. The Nittany Lions will be an interesting school to revisit in five years if they break through this season and live up to their national championship potential after last season's semifinal run. Average football revenue: $98.5 million Advertisement The Gators are also pursuing a major stadium upgrade that would significantly change the revenue picture; in January, the chairperson of the university's board of trustees publicly floated a $1 billion price tag for the project. Florida's downside remains its on-field product. USC is the only other program in our top 12 that has never made the College Football Playoff, and the Gators have suffered through four consecutive seasons without finishing ranked. Average football revenue: $118.2 million Like Florida, the Tigers have been in an on-field funk. The national championship trophy Auburn won with Cam Newton is almost old enough to get its driver's license. We slotted the Tigers behind the Gators because Florida remains the flagship school of a large, still-growing state. Auburn is No. 2 in Alabama, a state with a quarter of the residents (5.2 million). Average football revenue: $90.0 million In prestige and championship potential, the Ducks — the top team on this list that has never won a national title — are probably undervalued here. Nike has made them a national brand, and Dan Lanning has re-established them as a title contender. Though Oregon proved it belongs in the Big Ten by winning the conference championship in Year 1, the Ducks get a half-share payout from the league until the 2030 fiscal year. That reality kept them from being the 14th member of our $1 billion club. Average football revenue: $97.3 million The Aggies have the rabid fan base and demographic upside to be higher. Money has also never been an issue at a program that paid Jimbo Fisher the biggest buyout in college football history (about $77 million). But we're also considering wins and losses because of the money victories bring. Texas A&M is arguably the nation's biggest underachiever with only four top-five finishes and one national title (1939) since the Associated Press poll began in 1936 and zero conference titles since 1998. Advertisement Average football revenue: $107.8 million Like Oregon, the Huskies have Big Ten status but no full Big Ten payday until 2030, and two coaches have led the team to the CFP. Both Washington and Seattle have swelling populations, which helps the sale price. But the location in Seattle cuts the other way, too, as the Huskies share a town with the Seahawks, Mariners and Kraken, plus the MLS' Sounders FC. The Huskies' market faces a higher risk of overcrowding than most peers. Average football revenue: $116.3 million Although the Cornhuskers usually rank in the top 10 in football revenue, they haven't finished ranked since 2012 or even beaten a ranked team since 2016, and they're almost 30 years removed from their last national championship. They also have failed to stand out in the Big Ten. Those factors make Nebraska a shakier investment; the program looks more like a depreciating asset than a team on the rise. The cost puts Nebraska between the sales prices of the NHL's Ottawa Senators ($950 million in 2023) and Pittsburgh Penguins ($900 million in 2021). Average football revenue: $86.7 million The Seminoles' financial future looks better after they settled their dueling lawsuits with the ACC. We can expect Florida State's revenue to jump by eight figures under the conference's new uneven distribution model, which tilts TV payouts toward the programs that attract the most viewers. The settlement agreement also set a clear, manageable exit fee for FSU to join the SEC, Big Ten or theoretical super league. If the Seminoles can stabilize themselves on the field, they should be in position to benefit in conference realignment or other changes to the landscape. Average football revenue: $100.1 million Advertisement The Badgers are the final $100 million-a-year program on our list. The program has stalled (32-26 over the last five seasons) and lacks the tradition of Nebraska or the upside of Washington and Florida State. But even though the floor looks lower than it did a decade ago, it's high enough for Wisconsin — the only program above Division III in the 20th most popular state — to belong in our top 20 with a big gap to the next tier. Average football revenue: $88.6 million Average football revenue: $88.5 million The Hawkeyes and Spartans are virtually identical in revenue and on-field results (Iowa is 123-69 since 2010, while Michigan State is 119-69). We'd classify their standings in the Big Ten and the sport as a whole as about the same, too, even as we game out future realignment scenarios. This price point is on par with average MLS team valuations by Forbes and Sportico. Average football revenue: $78.2 million The Tigers were one of the trickiest to place. They, like Florida State, are positioned to capitalize with the ACC's new payout structure and have a viable escape hatch to the SEC or Big Ten if/when the next realignment wave hits around 2030. Two national championships in the past decade plus a likely preseason top-five roster are also great selling points. But Clemson averaged only 8.2 wins between its 1981 title and Dabo Swinney's first ring (2016). That makes the Tigers' footing feel a little shakier without a gargantuan student body or nearby population to fall back on if the program regresses to its historic mean. Average football revenue: $80.8 million Average football revenue: $75.5 million Average football revenue: $73.8 million Advertisement Miami was also interesting to place beyond the future of its conference, the ACC. The U brings the appeal of south Florida and a marquee name. On the other hand, the program lacks a home stadium, and its recent returns on investment would politely be described as inconsistent. Miami hasn't finished in the top 10 or won a conference title since 2003, its final year in the Big East. We decided to treat Miami the same as middle-of-the-pack SEC programs Arkansas and Ole Miss. Average football revenue: $63.6 million Average football revenue: $70.3 million Average football revenue: $80.2 million Average football revenue: $77.0 million Average football revenue: $74.7 million If UNC seems high, it's because it has more financial upside (beyond whatever happens during Bill Belichick's tenure) than other teams in this ballpark. North Carolina is already the ninth-largest state and growing more than all but Texas and Florida. That's a good sign for the potential growth of a fan base. Assuming academics matter in future college football iterations — probable but not a given — the leaders of Big Ten and SEC schools will both want to be associated with one of the nation's top public schools. South Carolina, Minnesota and Utah are being capped by lower ceilings. TCU's location in Fort Worth (a talent-rich, populous area) was an advantage over many of its Big 12 peers. These prices are in line with Sportico's valuations of the MLS' Chicago Fire FC, FC Dallas, Orlando City SC, the New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake. Average football revenue: $65.0 million Average football revenue: $63.6 million Average football revenue: $67.7 million Average football revenue: $47.9 million Average football revenue: $67.7 million Average football revenue: $67.5 million Average football revenue: $51.0 million Location and demographics were a positive for NC State (the Triangle region has a lot of potential) and a negative for Texas Tech (Lubbock is not Fort Worth). There's little separation between Northwestern and in-state rival Illinois, but the $850 million stadium the Wildcats plan to open in 2026 helps their case. Despite Kentucky's reported revenues (lower than we expected), we figured the Wildcats' spot in the SEC was worth enough to put them ahead of a rival in the next tier. At the high end of this group, Virginia Tech is slightly higher than the $450 million valuation for the WNBA's New York Liberty. Average football revenue: $64.3 million Average football revenue: $57.3 million Average football revenue: $53.1 million Average football revenue: $61.2 million Average football revenue: $49.9 million A year ago, we would have treated Indiana like one of the Big Ten's bottom teams, but a CFP run moved the Hoosiers up a peg. Oklahoma State and Arizona State end up with an almost identical price, as we weighed the Cowboys' greater revenue against the Sun Devils' greater potential (Tempe is in a county that's among the nation's largest in population and recent population growth). Arizona State's CFP run also helps. Louisville lands where we expected as a solid middle-class ACC program. Advertisement Purdue offers more stability and a higher floor than the Big Ten programs beneath it. This cost puts the Boilermakers slightly behind Forbes' valuation for another in-state team, the WNBA's Indiana Fever. Average football revenue: $56.7 million Average football revenue: $42.2 million Average football revenue: $55.2 million Average football revenue: $54.9 million Average football revenue: $54.6 million Average football revenue: $64.7 million Average football revenue: $53.6 million Los Angeles glamor inflates UCLA, just as it did USC, but playing off-campus is a bit of a drawback (despite the fact that it's the Rose Bowl). Although we can't isolate Deion Sanders' impact on Colorado, we conservatively estimated it to be at least $50 million. Why? Without Sanders, the Buffaloes (two 10-win seasons this century) would undoubtedly be lower on this list. But we didn't want to make too much of it because there's no guarantee the bump lasts beyond his tenure, whenever and however it ends. Duke's value was deflated by its history (one top-25 finish in the last six decades) and the fact that it's the school's No. 2 sport behind men's basketball. This price point is comparable to the 2019 expansion fee for a Charlotte club to join MLS ($325 million). Average football revenue: $43.7 million Average football revenue: $50.5 million Average football revenue: $57.6 million Average football revenue: $47.4 million Average football revenue: $46.9 million Average football revenue: $46.0 million Much of the parity-filled Big 12 is, fittingly, clustered together, although BYU's revenues are set to rise now that it's eligible for full payouts from the league. Advertisement Maryland is the oddball here. The Terrapins' last 10-win season was in 2003, and they still seem somewhat out of place in the Big Ten. Losing athletic director Damon Evans to SMU and men's basketball coach Kevin Willard to Villanova led to more questions about the school's finances compared to the rest of the conference. Those department-wide questions trickled into our football analysis. Average football revenue: $51.4 million Average football revenue: $41.7 million Average football revenue: $38.1 million Average football revenue: $35.0 million Average football revenue: $40.3 million Virginia has enough brand power and academic prestige to avoid the bottom of the ACC. Stanford is similar, too, but remember that the Big Ten had the chance to add the Cardinal alongside Oregon and Washington in 2023 but did not do so. That's a concern as we consider the program's future in possible realignment/super league iterations. UCF has billed itself as the future of college football. Regardless of whether you believe that lofty claim, the Knights are positioned for upward mobility thanks to one of the nation's largest enrollments plus a growing alumni base and city (Orlando). Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, unsurprisingly, are our final SEC programs. The Bulldogs would cost the same as the expansion fee for a WNBA franchise. Average football revenue: $39.3 million Average football revenue: $37.6 million Average football revenue: $29.7 million Average football revenue: $43.1 million Average football revenue: $39.5 million Advertisement Average football revenue: $31.0 million Average football revenue: $26.4 million Average football revenue: $22.7 million SMU feels like the outlier in the bottom group, especially after last year's Playoff run. But the Mustangs gave up their TV money to join the ACC, putting a cap on their financial earnings. Rutgers still isn't getting a full share from the Big Ten, and the Scarlet Knights don't have enough upside or brand power to be any higher. Cal shares Stanford's long-term realignment concerns but adds an extra wrinkle as a public institution. Cincinnati and Houston have faced early hiccups transitioning from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. Both have higher ceilings than Wake Forest, but there's greater risk with the Power 4 newbies, too. Most revenue figures for public schools came from their NCAA financial reports, which we compiled largely through public records requests and schools' websites. Sportico and the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database filled in a few missing pieces. We also used figures submitted by schools to the U.S. Department of Education. If the two sets of numbers were vastly different, we split the difference. Our final revenues were a three-year average. For SEC and Big Ten teams, we set the multiplier range as 5-13x a program's revenue. Because the Big 12 and ACC provide less prestige and more uncertainty, we started with a general range of 4-9x for those teams. Our exercise did not address the new annual expense of up to $20.5 million in paying players, which started July 1. We didn't get into the nitty gritty of assets like stadium values, either. — The Athletic's Scott Dochterman, Matt Brown and Jayson Jenks contributed to this report. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire, Kirby Lee, Erich Schlegel / Getty Images) The Rankings and Tiers series is sponsored by E*Trade from Morgan Stanley. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Sponsors have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Derrek Cooper, No. 1 RB in 2026, commits to Texas
Derrek Cooper, the top-ranked running in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, committed to Texas on Sunday night. Cooper, a native of Hollywood, Fla., chose the Longhorns over finalists Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State. A two-way player for Chaminade-Madonna Prep listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Cooper is listed in the athlete category by the 247Sports Composite, where he is a five-star ranked No. 29 overall in the class and No. 2 in Florida. Cooper joins a star-studded freshman class for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns next year. They already had signed three other ESPN five-stars: quarterback Dia Bell, defensive end Richard Wesley and linebacker Tyler Atkinson. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
