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Michigan, Ohio State Post Record Revenue in 2022

  • Michigan’s surplus marked its largest since 2012.
  • Ticket sales drove profits with $55.2 million sold — $47.5 million from football alone.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Big Ten’s two flagship athletic programs are driving profits for their universities. 

The University of Michigan athletics department reported a $17.1 million surplus for FY2022 behind $210.6 million in operating revenue — a record for the school’s athletic programs. 

Rival Ohio State University saw its athletic department generate a record $251.6 million in revenue between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, up from $107 million for the fiscal year prior. 

  • Michigan’s surplus marked its largest since 2012
  • Ticket sales drove profits with $55.2 million sold — $47.5 million from football alone. 
  • The Wolverines pocketed another $46.9 million from media rights deals. 
  • Ohio State saw ticket sales reach $59.6 million in FY2022 — $47 million from football. 
  • Media rights revenue for the Buckeyes reached $48.9 million, up from $40.5 million in FY2021.

The favorable results for the two schools also included contributions from donors, foundations, and companies. Michigan reported that it received $43.5 million worth of donations in FY2022 — a $13 million increase year-over-year — while Ohio State reported $62.9 million in revenue from individuals, foundations, and companies, up from $19.7 million in FY2021.  

Big Things to Come 

Michigan, Ohio State, and other Big Ten schools are poised for big paydays following a blockbuster media rights deal. 

In August 2022, the Big Ten finalized media rights deals with FOX, CBS, and NBC/Peacock worth at least $7 billion in total, sources told Front Office Sports.

Big Ten Finalizes Landmark Media Rights Deal Worth At Least $7B

The deal is the largest in college sports history.
August 18, 2022

The deals, which include football and all Olympic sports, will run from 2023-30.

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