• Loading stock data...
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

College Football Playoff Teams Paid $27M for Non-Conference Schedules

The 12 teams in this year’s College Football Playoff spent nearly $27 million scheduling games against teams from the Group of 5 and FCS. Texas led the way, while Arizona State didn’t pay anything.

Austin American-Statesman

One of the biggest talking points surrounding teams that did (and didn’t) make the first 12-team College Football Playoff field was their respective strength of schedules. 

After Alabama was left out in favor of SMU, Crimson Tide AD Greg Byrne posted on X that he “will need to assess” how many Power 4 non-conference games “make sense in the future to put us in the best position to participate in the CFP.” 

Alabama finished the regular season 9–3, but all of its losses came against SEC opponents. The Crimson Tide played at Wisconsin but also paid a total of $2.9 million for home games against Group of 5 programs USF and Western Kentucky, as well as Mercer, an FCS school. 

That payout for non-conference games is higher than all but four teams that did make the CFP. The SEC and ACC play eight conference games and four non-conference matchups annually, while the Big Ten and Big 12 each play nine and three, respectively.

In total, this year’s 12 Playoff teams paid at least $26.9 million for matchups with Group of 5 and FCS teams, according to Front Office Sports research:

  • Texas: $4.9 million
  • Ohio State: $4 million
  • Tennessee: $3.5 million
  • Penn State: $3.1 million
  • Notre Dame: $2.65 million
  • Georgia: $2.45 million
  • Oregon: $1.95 million
  • Indiana: $1.75 million
  • Clemson: $1.73 million
  • SMU: $450,000
  • Boise State: $425,000
  • Arizona State: $0

By the Numbers

Notre Dame was the lone CFP team to lose a game in which it paid its opponent—a 16–14 shocker at home against Northern Illinois, which received $1.4 million to hand the Fighting Irish their only loss of the season. As an independent school, Notre Dame doesn’t have a conference schedule but does have a partnership with the ACC and traditional matchups like those against Stanford and USC.

SMU’s tally accounts for a $450,000 payment the Mustangs made to Nevada—for a road game in a unique twist—but any potential payment made to Houston Christian is unavailable, as it is private, like SMU. Houston Christian received a $350,000 payment to play at UTSA this season.

While Texas paid the most for its non-conference games, which also included a trip to Michigan, the Longhorns only earned the No. 5 CFP seed after losing to Georgia in the SEC championship game. Arizona State, which didn’t pay anything for its non-conference schedule, won the Big 12 and was awarded the No. 4 seed (and a bye). The Sun Devils did host Wyoming (Mountain West) to open the season, but FOS did not find any record of a payment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close looks on against the LSU Lady Tigers during the first half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena.

UCLA’s Rise to the Final Four: Cori Close’s Blueprint for a New..

The UCLA women’s team is in the Final Four for the first time in the NCAA era.
Mar 31, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) makes a heart symbol to the crowd after a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the USC Trojans at Spokane Arena.

Women’s Hoops Keeps Climbing: Clark’s Boom to Bueckers’s Moment

This year’s tournament has averaged 967,000 viewers.
hard-knocks-2020

NFL Expands ‘Hard Knocks’ Pool of Teams: Who’s Eligible for 2025?

The NFL is relaxing rules surrounding its reality TV show.
Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets players pose for a photo after the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.

Sacramento State Applies for Waiver to Transition to FBS

The Hornets would need the NCAA to approve a waiver to switch to FBS.

Featured Today

Dec 27, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) skates during warm ups before their game against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center at San Jose

Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks Rookies Have Brought Good Vibes to a..

The rookie’s arrival has boosted spirits incongruously high inside the flagging franchise.
Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
April 1, 2025

The Creator Behind the LeBron ‘Glazing’ Trend Sweeping TikTok

FOS spoke to TikTok user OkaySpade who made the original song.
Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys manager Amir Khan before a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion
April 1, 2025

Inside the 24-Hour NIL March Madness Deals

Some of the most viral partnerships come together overnight.
Seattle Kraken
April 1, 2025

Samantha Holloway Is Seattle’s NHL Present—and Hopeful NBA Future

Samantha Holloway is steering the Kraken and hoping to revive pro hoops.
Flau'Jae Johnson

Flau’jae Johnson Picks LSU Over WNBA Draft

The LSU star and rapper will stay another year in school.
Mar 30, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson reacts after cutting the net for the Midwest Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
April 3, 2025

‘Overlooked’ Big 12 Has Quietly Succeeded During Men’s March Madness

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark says the conference has won big, too.
Dawn Staley
April 3, 2025

Women’s March Madness Has a Portal Problem. Can GMs Solve It?

Final Four coaches are calling agents and players between practices.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
April 2, 2025

In the NIL Era, College Basketball’s Biggest Programs Keep Winning

Only Power 4 teams qualified for the men’s Sweet 16.
April 2, 2025

SEC, Big Ten Secure $3M Payouts From Women’s March Madness

Each unit is estimated to be about $113,636.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles (5) celebrates a three-pointer as TCU Horned Frogs face off with Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Sweet 16 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
April 1, 2025

Olivia Miles Delays WNBA Dreams: Why She Chose the Transfer Portal

Miles was the projected No. 2 overall pick.
April 1, 2025

Women’s Elite Eight Ratings Down 53%, Still Top Pre–Caitlin Clark Years

UConn wasn’t in the most-watched game for the first time.