Saturday, October 10, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Big Ten Pockets $12M Despite Michigan, Ohio State Losses

  • With two member schools in the playoff semifinals, the Big Ten pockets $12 million.
  • Each team in a non-playoff bowl under the CFP earns $4 million.
TCU Michigan
Syndication: USA TODAY

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

The winner of the College Football Playoff National Championship hasn’t yet been decided — TCU and Georgia will settle that next Monday night — but the Big Ten didn’t leave the playoff semifinals empty-handed.

Because two of its member schools — Michigan and Ohio State — played in this past weekend’s semifinal games, the Big Ten will receive $12 million. Both the Wolverines and Buckeyes, however, lost.

  • The SEC and Big 12 will receive $6 million each for Georgia and TCU’s appearance, respectively. 
  • Each team in a non-playoff bowl under the CFP earns $4 million.
  • If a school’s football team meets the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate for participation in a postseason football game, both the conference and team will receive an additional $300,000.

Georgia and TCU, who will play for the national championship at SoFi Stadium, won’t receive any additional distribution, but each school will have all of their expenses covered.

The conferences and schools aren’t the only big winners. 

The championship is estimated to bring between $155 million and $225 million to the Los Angeles region, according to Micronomics Economic Research and Consulting.

The 2022 CFP National Championship weekend in Indianapolis generated $156.6 million, per a Rockport Analytics report.

Expansion Questions 

The CFP announced Dec. 1 that it would expand to 12 teams for the 2024-25 season, though it’s unclear how distributions would be handled.

The expanded format could reportedly fetch $2.2 billion in annual media rights fees. Its current deal with ESPN reportedly pays an average of $470 million per year through 2026.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Georgia-Alabama Braces for Hurricane, Trump Won’t Attend

Alabama banned tailgating and all outdoor activities on campus before noon.
Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Stephen A. Smith Ditches the ‘Nopology’ in Lane Johnson Mea Culpa

Smith faced criticism for comments about Johnson retiring to focus on mental health.
Suzy Kolber at Front Office Sports

Suzy Kolber Talks ESPN Layoff, ‘Unconventional’ Path to Scripps

Kolber also addressed why she thinks ESPN’s “middle class” is disappearing.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; A detailed view of the College Football Playoff logo on the pylon during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Exclusive Window Closes Next Week As 24-Team CFP Looms

The College Football Playoff has until Dec. 1 to expand for 2027.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/9/26 – MLB’s 154-Game Pitch, NFL Bets on SCOTUS, Shaq Says Barkley Isn’t Leaving

0:00

Featured Today

Action Images/Peter Cziborra

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.

Belichick, UNC Score Biggest Win Yet After Rocky Offseason

Belichick’s revamped UNC roster is beginning to show signs of progress.
Mar 29, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers mens basketball head coach Will Wade looks on against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
October 9, 2026

LSU Finally Reveals 10-Player Roster in Will Wade’s Exhibition Return

The game offered a glimpse into which LSU players are eligible.
October 10, 2026

ASU Hockey Home Opener Marred by Player Collapse Fallout

ASU’s hockey home opener featured more absences amid an ongoing investigation.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning talks to Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola on the sideline as the Oregon Ducks face the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 12, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
October 9, 2026

How Oregon Beat College Football’s ‘Impossible’ Backup QB Market

Dylan Raiola will get the first start of his Oregon career on Saturday.
Jan 20, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark during the CFP host committee handoff press conference at Marriott Marquis Miami. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
First at FOS
October 8, 2026

CFP Director Supportive of 24 Teams, Endorses College Sports Bill

Rich Clark said a potential 24-team Playoff would be “spectacular.”
Farah O’Keefe NCAA
October 8, 2026

No. 1 Women’s Amateur Golfer Discusses Life As an ‘Infant Pro’

Farah O’Keefe won her first NCAA title in June.
October 8, 2026

ICE Has Detained Another College Basketball Player

A Chinese player at Mississippi Valley State was detained Sept. 29.