Here’s how wacko, bonkers, crazy college sports has gotten in the past half-decade, and more specifically the money taken in by the SEC and Big Ten: the ACC saw its revenue jump by nearly $100 million in 2014-15 -- and they’re worried about falling behind.
Whereas a decade ago simply making $100 million as a conference would’ve been cause for a clicking of heels in Greensboro, the ACC’s jump from $302.3 million in 2013-14 to $403.1 million in 2014-15, according to tax documents obtained by USA Today, is met by concern of just how in the heck they’re going to match the SEC’s $527.4 million and the Big Ten’s $448.8 million without what those two leagues have -- a TV network.
The ACC has seen revenues jump nearly $170 million in two years, and the 2014-15 jump was thanks in large part to a $30 million exit fee played by Maryland in leaving for the Big Ten.
Commissioner John Swofford saw his pay grow along with his conference’s, from $2.1 million and change to just under $2.7 million.
The ACC was the final Power 5 to release its financials for the 2014-15 fiscal year, and with all five out we now have a full picture of how the schools stack up on a per school basis (full shares only):
- SEC: $32.6 million*
- Big Ten: $32.4 million
- ACC: $25.8 million*
- Pac-12: $25.1 million
- Big 12: $23.4 million^
* - Splitting difference between highest and lowest distributions, as listed by USA Today
^ - Does not include third-tier payments such as Longhorn Network