Here's how much money those playoff wins by Ohio State, other Big Ten teams earned for Maryland
There are plenty of moments when Maryland's move to the Big Ten feels like trying to sprint up an ice-covered mountain, like those blowout losses to behemoths like Ohio State and Michigan and or a glance at the football recruiting class rankings, the top 25 perennially littered with Big Ten schools. Then there are others when the benefits of the move are reinforced, like when the passive revenue comes pouring in.
While any fan would prefer to beat the Buckeyes or Wolverines to the athletic department receiving a fat check, money is increasingly crucial in today's professionalized college sports landscape. And Maryland is about to get another fat check thanks to its Big Ten affiliation. Led by Ohio State, the Big Ten's success in the first 12-team College Football Playoff is a payday for everyone in the conference, earning the Big Ten a total of $46 million
The biggest winner of the CFP, of course, is Notre Dame. Its lack of conference affiliation means the Irish get to keep all the cash they've earned, $20 million. Their independence was the biggest national college football topic leading into their semifinal win over Penn State. The Big Ten has always coveted Notre Dame, but good luck convincing them to make a move that will force them to share the revenue that lines their pockets.
"We have a long-term (media rights) deal with NBC, and it's no secret that the playoff expansion to 12 teams helps us. We feel good about where we are moving forward," Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua told USA TODAY.
Maryland can use all the extra revenue it can get after athletic director Damon Evans' announcement the school will spend the maximum-allowed $20.5 million on paying athletes next season. Via our reporting:
"While we support the proposed settlement and the new opportunities it provides for our student-athletes, it also creates significant financial challenges for our program. In all, we anticipate new expenses exceeding $25 million annually. Maryland Athletics has developed a comprehensive new strategy and structure not just to navigate this new collegiate landscape, but to thrive in it. While we will be evaluating targeted reductions in operating expenses, we know that we cannot grow our program by cuts. Our focus must continue to be on revenue growth," Evans wrote
"The forthcoming transition to the per seat model for football and men's basketball, including the upcoming reseat process, will provide a solid foundation for future growth. Last month, we opened The Maryland Club, a terrific new premium club overlooking the court in XFINITY Center, that provides a best-in-class member experience as well as new revenues for our department. We are also actively revitalizing our ticket sales and annual fund plans, investing in major gift fundraising, and exploring additional premium amenities."
There are plenty of moments when Maryland's move to the Big Ten feels like trying to sprint up an ice-covered mountain, like those blowout losses to Ohio State and Michigan and or a glance at the football. Then there are others when the benefits of the move are reinforced, like when the passive revenue is pouring in.
There are plenty of moments when Maryland's move to the Big Ten feels like trying to sprint up an ice-covered mountain, like those blowout losses to behemoths like Ohio State and Michigan and or a glance at the football recruiting class rankings, the top 25 perennially littered with Big Ten schools. Then there are others when the benefits of the move are reinforced, like when the passive revenue comes pouring in.
While any fan would prefer to beat the Buckeyes or Wolverines to the athletic department receiving a fat check, money is increasingly crucial in today's professionalized college sports landscape. And Maryland is about to get another fat check thanks to its Big Ten affiliation. Led by Ohio State, the Big Ten's success in the first 12-team College Football Playoff is a payday for everyone in the conference, earning the Big Ten a total of $46 million
That $46 million will be divided equally among Big Ten schools, meaning everyone in the conference will get nearly $2.6 million. The Big Ten has shined in the expanded CFP, going 5-3: Ohio State (3-0), Penn State (2-1), Oregon (0-1) and Indiana (0-1). And that record could be better if two Big Ten teams, OSU and Oregon, weren't pitted against each other, guaranteeing a loss for the Big Ten.
The biggest winner of the CFP, of course, is Notre Dame. Its lack of conference affiliation means the Irish get to keep all the cash they've earned, $20 million. Their independence was the biggest national college football topic leading into their semifinal win over Penn State. The Big Ten has always coveted Notre Dame, but good luck convincing them to make a move that will force them to share the revenue that lines their pockets.
"We have a long-term (media rights) deal with NBC, and it's no secret that the playoff expansion to 12 teams helps us. We feel good about where we are moving forward," Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua told USA TODAY.
Maryland can use all the extra revenue it can get after athletic director Damon Evans' announcement the school will spend the maximum-allowed $20.5 million on paying athletes next season. Via our reporting:
Maryland and other Big Ten schools received about $60 million from the Big Ten revenue pool this season, the highest of any conference. But sharing 10s of millions of dollars with athletes every year, thanks to House settlement allowing universities to pay players, is a new expense.
"While we support the proposed settlement and the new opportunities it provides for our student-athletes, it also creates significant financial challenges for our program. In all, we anticipate new expenses exceeding $25 million annually. Maryland Athletics has developed a comprehensive new strategy and structure not just to navigate this new collegiate landscape, but to thrive in it. While we will be evaluating targeted reductions in operating expenses, we know that we cannot grow our program by cuts. Our focus must continue to be on revenue growth," Evans wrote
"The forthcoming transition to the per seat model for football and men's basketball, including the upcoming reseat process, will provide a solid foundation for future growth. Last month, we opened The Maryland Club, a terrific new premium club overlooking the court in XFINITY Center, that provides a best-in-class member experience as well as new revenues for our department. We are also actively revitalizing our ticket sales and annual fund plans, investing in major gift fundraising, and exploring additional premium amenities."
