The athletic departments of the Big Ten’s 16 public universities generated nearly $2.84 billion in revenue during the 2024 fiscal year but collectively spent nearly $3 billion, according to financial data sent to the NCAA and obtained recently by The Athletic through state open-records laws.
Of those athletic departments, half finished the 2024 fiscal year with a deficit, and four of those eight were at least $15 million in the hole. Most of the shortfalls were covered by department reserves, university loans or institutional support. Private universities Northwestern and USC aren’t required by law to release their documents and do not.
Of the 13 public universities collecting Big Ten funding during fiscal 2024, 11 secured around $50.8 million as part of the league’s media contract plus $11 million or so for other disbursals, including bowl revenue. Maryland and Rutgers received lower amounts as part of their payback process after borrowing during their six years of non-vested membership.
The 2024 fiscal year began July 1, 2023, and concluded June 30, 2024. Although UCLA, Oregon and Washington competed in the Pac-12 during that year, their data was included for this analysis of the financial situation faced by the membership of one of college sports’ richest conferences….
