Playing a marquee game on a neutral field has become rather common in college football in recent seasons, and the paydays that come with them tend to be the reason why. Aside from solving scheduling conflicts by avoiding arguments over home-and-home or one-and-done scheduling arrangements on one school’s campus without a return trip, neutral sites tend to cut rather significant paychecks to the participants. It is for this reason the neutral site game is far from a fad in college football. It is a new luxury that will be sought after by major programs for years to come.
According to information obtained by The Advocate, LSU will be cashing in on a pair of future non-conference match-ups taking place on a neutral field. As reported, ESPN will pay LSU a sum of $4 million when the Tigers face BYU in Houston in 2017. ESPN will cut another check in the amount of $4.75 million when LSU travels to Arlington, Texas to face Miami the following season (2018).
LSU is starting to see some nice income from neutral site arrangements. The $4.75 million due from the Miami game in 2018 is expected to be the most LSU will receive to play in a neutral site game, but the school is likely padding the coffers with frequently scheduled neutral site games. LSU has played in a neutral site game four out of the last five seasons.
Alabama and West Virginia split $6.4 million to play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta in 2014. Ole Miss and Boise State split $3.1 million for the same event a couple of days earlier. The Cowboys Classic offered even bigger payouts for each school in its game. In 2012 Alabama and Michigan each received $4.7 million. The previous year LSU was paid $3.5 million and Oregon received $2 million to play in the game. The Florida Gators are expected to receive $6 million to play in the 2017 Cowboys Classic, against Michigan. Florida State will receive $3.5 million to play Ole Miss in Orlando in 2016.
It is no wonder Auburn is looking to secure a neutral site game in 2018 when so much money is involved.