• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Notre Dame’s Independent Status Means $14 Million CFP Payday

The CFP pays conferences that have winning teams, but independent Notre Dame keeps all those funds.

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) Fighting Irish defensive lineman Howard Cross III (56), Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24), and Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrate with the Sugar Bowl trophy after their game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The College Football Playoff awards millions of dollars to conferences for each of their schools that earns a spot, and the money keeps rolling as teams advance.

But for independent Notre Dame, all that cash is going to South Bend.

The Fighting Irish have earned $14 million for their postseason prowess thus far. That’s the same amount that Texas, Ohio State, and Penn State have made, but their dollars will go to the SEC and Big Ten to then be divided among schools as the conferences see fit.

The four schools earned $4 million for making the CFP, $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals, and $6 million for continuing on to the semifinals. The two teams that make it to the national championship game will earn an additional $6 million.

Notre Dame is raking in more money than the ACC ($8 million for SMU and Clemson), Big 12 ($8 million for Arizona State), and Mountain West ($8 million for Boise State). The school trails the SEC ($26 million so far for Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee) and Big Ten ($40 million so far for Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, and Indiana).

Conferences also get $3 million per round for travel expenses and $300,000 for each team that meets certain academic standards.

The Big Ten divides its NCAA distributions equally, meaning Ohio State and Penn State will each take in about $2.2 million from the current pot. The SEC’s model is more performance-based, so Texas would go home with $3.75 million of the current amount.

The payout model is similar to NCAA units awarded during March Madness. Men’s teams bring about $2 million to their conference for each game they play. During the NCAA convention later this month, a vote could add units to the women’s March Madness. Those payments would start with $15 million in the 2025–2026 fiscal year and grow to $25 million by 2027, before increasing at the same rate as other NCAA distribution funds—2.9% annually.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) takes to the court on Jan. 22, 2025, ahead a game against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Unrivaled Makes NIL Splash During WNBA All-Star Weekend

The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league signed 14 college players to NIL deals.
Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.