After recent expansion and success in the College Football Playoffs following the 2024 season, the Big Ten Conference announced a record $1.37 billion distribution to its 18 league members for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The Big Ten became the second conference to reach the $1 billion plateau. The Southeastern Conference announced that it had divided up $1 billion to its 16 member institutions in February. That figure represented an increase of $200 million from the 2023-24 fiscal year.
The Big Ten’s $1.37 billion largess represents an increase of $487 million from the 2023-24 fiscal year. The two primary factors were the additions of UCLA, Southern California, Oregon and Washington in August of 2024 and the participation of Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State in the 12-team College Football Playoffs in December and January.
Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 34-23 to win the 2024 national championship in a game played in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025. The Buckeyes’ program earned a league-high $91.57 million, while Penn State, a national semifinalist in football, received $88.29 million.
All full-time members received between $76.01 million and $79.87 million, while new members Oregon and Washington took in $48.4 million and $46.7 million respectively. UCLA and USC are considered fully-vested members and earned the higher payout amounts.
–Field Level Media
