In 2023, the world of college athletics witnessed Alabama’s sports programs securing a top spot in terms of revenue among the 15 public universities soon to be part of the SEC, ranking sixth. Auburn found itself not too far behind, occupying the eighth position. This information comes from detailed reports on NCAA revenues and expenses, as shared by AL.com.
Every year, teams must disclose their financials to the NCAA, with the deadline set for January 15. This requirement ensures transparency and allows for a clear comparison across programs. Notably, Vanderbilt’s figures were absent from this comparison due to its private status, exempting it from public records laws. Meanwhile, Texas and Oklahoma, despite spending the entire fiscal year in the Big 12, were included in the analysis.
Texas A&M led the pack with a staggering $279.2 million in revenue, closely followed by its rival, the University of Texas, which posted $271.1 million. Alabama itself reported a significant $200 million, with a slight adjustment to $195.3 million for the fiscal year spanning from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
The Crimson Tide was outpaced in revenue by schools such as the Texas institutions, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU. Oklahoma and Auburn trailed closely behind Alabama in the revenue rankings. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi State reported the lowest total revenue in the league, with $115.7 million, while Missouri was just ahead, bringing in $141.6 million.
Despite Texas A&M’s lead in revenue, it was Texas that topped the charts in terms of athletic expenses for the fiscal year 2023, with a whopping $232.3 million. Alabama was not far behind, leading the SEC schools with $212 million in expenses, and Auburn ranked sixth with $192 million in spending.
Between Alabama and Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M found their spots, with Texas A&M boasting the largest surplus of revenue over expenses at $84.5 million. Mississippi State, once again, found itself at the bottom, with the lowest spending at $121 million, and Missouri was the only other institution spending less than $150 million.
Focusing solely on football, Texas emerged as the leader in revenue, bringing in $183 million for the fiscal year 2023. Georgia claimed a distant second with $152.7 million, while Alabama and Auburn were in the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Oklahoma also showed strong performance, securing the third position with $143.1 million in football revenue.
In terms of football-specific spending, Alabama led all schools with an impressive $83.3 million. Auburn followed in second place, spending $71.1 million, with future SEC members Texas and Oklahoma also making significant investments in their football programs.
Georgia positioned itself just below Alabama and Auburn, with $69 million in football expenses. Mississippi State, maintaining its trend, reported the lowest football spending at $33 million, significantly trailing behind its in-state rival Ole Miss, which spent $60.2 million, ranking fifth among the evaluated schools.