The Big Ten football isn’t just getting wins over the SEC on the gridiron. At this point, debates around which is the better conference should settle, because the former conference has emerged as bigger in college football. Hauling in a record-shattering $1.47 billion in revenue and distributing nearly $1.37 billion back to its members should also make the case for it.

The figure is a monstrous $540 million jump from what they pulled in the 2023-2024 season. The Big Ten also distributed the $1.37 billion among 18 members with more mouths to feed, which is more than what SEC schools got ($1.03 billion).

The main reason for this mountain of cash is the launch of the conference’s $7.5 billion media deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC. On top of that, the 12-team College Football Playoff expansion was the cherry on top, which was dominated by Big Ten members for the last three years.

Conferences now snag $4 million for every team that makes the bracket, another $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals, and $6 million for the semifinals. At this point, the Big Ten and SEC are commanding 58% of all CFP revenue. They have literally built a financial fortress that the other conferences can’t even touch.

However, disbursements are not equal across all 18 schools. The Big Ten utilizes a vested system for new members. Ohio State got the most money with $91.55 million. Next in line comes Penn State with $88.9 million, and Indiana with $81 million, all thanks to head coach Curt Cignetti. The other 13 teams each got somewhere between $76 million and $79 million.

Oregon and Washington got less money because they are still on partial shares until around 2030. Oregon bagged $48 million, and Washington got $46 million. The reason for Oregon’s extra $2 million is that it played in the playoffs. It’s a bit of a ‘pay-your-dues’ system, but even a half-share in the Big Ten is more than they were making in the old Pac-12.

However, there is a catch.

The numbers don’t tell the full story

Surprisingly, having $1.47 billion doesn’t mean these schools are actually “profitable.” In fact, the total spending across the league’s 16 public departments hit $3.126 billion. This leaves the group as a whole in a slight $8 million deficit. Why? Because the bills are insane. Ohio State reported a $38 million deficit despite its record revenue, and Michigan needed an extra $15 million just to break even.

Coaching salaries are hitting the moon. Schools like Penn State and Rutgers are shelling out over $20 million for their staffs. The travel costs for those coast-to-coast flights added an average of $3 million to every team’s budget.

Looking ahead, the Big Ten is flirting with a move that sounds more like Wall Street: a $2.44 billion private equity deal with UC Investments. The plan is to create “Big Ten Enterprises” and sell a 10% stake in it for an immediate cash injection. For some reason and lack of agreement, the plan is on hold. However, if it goes through, Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State would get an instant $190 million each. The smaller schools would walk away with roughly around about $110 million.

Some schools are nervous about going the extra mile for quick cash. Even the University of Michigan regents have slammed it as a system that trades away long-term value for a short-term fix. But since it is important to go bold to match the momentum of their football successes, only time will tell whether the Big 10 will get all 18 members on the same page.