Saturday, May 16, 2026

Million-Dollar Bonuses to $2 Hot Dogs: The Big Money of Ohio State’s Title

Ohio State has a $20 million roster and a $285 million athletic department, and its title win earned millions more.

Ryan Day
The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State captured its first football national title in a decade Monday night, beating Notre Dame 34–23 in Atlanta. 

The game concluded the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. The Dec. 20 start meant first-round games on college campuses and games occasionally bumping up against NFL territory.

The victory came with plenty of financial rewards. Here are the numbers to know from Monday’s result: 

$1 million: Total bonuses earned by Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day for winning the national title. Day earned $500,000 for Monday night’s win alone, but combined with his other postseason incentives, hits seven figures to add to his $10 million salary 

$700,000: Total bonuses earned by Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly for the team’s performance this year. The CFP win netted him another $100,000 under a contract that gives up a 5% bonus for a title win; Kelly’s base salary is $2 million. Day’s 10 assistant coaches each qualified for six-figure bonuses 

$770,000: OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’s total bonus earnings, a slightly higher amount than Kelly’s due to his $2.2 million base salary 

$46 million: Total payout to the Big Ten, of which OSU is a member

$2.6 million: Amount paid out to each of the Big Ten’s 17 members for OSU winning the national title. The Buckeyes got the same amount as their peers (Notre Dame gets to keep the $20 million it made to itself because it’s not in a conference)

$20 million: Approximate cost of Ohio State’s entire roster in NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals 

$285–300 million: Ohio State’s annual athletics budget, which it says is the largest in the country

$4 million: ESPN color analyst Kirk Herbstreit’s annual salary with the network. Herbstreit, a former OSU quarterback, called the game for ESPN. Herbstreit’s broadcast partner, Chris Fowler, reportedly makes $3 million annually 

$1–$1.1 million: Cost of a 30-second advertisement on ESPN during the national championship game, according to Navigate Research 

$1.3 billion: Price ESPN pays annually to broadcast the entire 12-team College Football Playoff

$2,500: Average price per ticket sold for the title game, according to StubHub. The price range was from $1,740 to $6,287 

$50,000: Bonus Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork received for the Buckeyes making the title game. Bjork’s annual salary is $2 million annually 

$200: Lowest rate for a hotel room in the Atlanta area for Monday night 

$500: Price of a one-way ticket for a Southwest Airlines flight from Columbus to Atlanta on Monday

$2: Cost of a hot dog at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is known for its fan-friendly prices

$900 million: Price Mercedes-Benz paid for the naming rights to the stadium in 2015, two years before it opened 

This story has been updated.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

3 Hot Topics at ACC Spring Meetings

Jim Phillips talked PE, Duke-Amazon, and CFP expansion.
May 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Sports are shown on TVs behind the bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in the Short North. Though there are no on-site betting windows, eligible customers can place bets through the DraftKings app.

Gambling Layoffs Pile Up As Sports Betting Industry Recalibrates

Penn Entertainment headlines three companies with layoffs this week.

NFL Teams Mock ‘AI Slop’ After Cardinals Schedule Video

The Cardinals did not immediately answer questions from FOS.
Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half during the NFC Wild Card Round game at Bank of America Stadium.

The Haves and Have-Nots of the 2026–27 NFL Schedule

Five teams have no primetime appearances scheduled in 2026.

Featured Today

NFL Rivalries Are Made on the Field, Mocked in Schedule Release Videos

Every year, teams find new ways to one-up themselves (and their rivals).
Bart Swings/Falyn Fonoimoana/Avery Poppinga
May 14, 2026

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

The adult-content platform is a reliable income source for niche athletes.
May 13, 2026

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
May 12, 2026

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.

Expanded March Madness Brings ‘Visibility’ to Women’s Game

Still, some coaches worry that mid-majors will be overlooked.
May 13, 2026

ACC Still Holding Off on Private Equity Despite Big 12 Leap

“To date, there’s nothing that has made sense,” Jim Phillips said Wednesday.
May 14, 2026

Arkansas Reinstates Tennis Teams After Donors Promise Millions

The move comes just 20 days after the programs were initially cut.
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war stories, and his investment strategy across major sports leagues.
Mar 11, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Alex Steen (25) reacts with guard Robert McCray V. (6) in the first half at Spectrum Center.
May 13, 2026

FSU Tests New Revenue Model as Schools Cut Sports

“Cutting sports isn’t part of the equation for us.”
May 12, 2026

NCAA Warns Baseball Coaches About Canceling Games to Boost Stats

A myriad of Power Four schools canceled games against lower-ranked opponents.
Oct 11, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium.
May 11, 2026

CSC Wins Key NIL Arbitration in Nebraska Football Case

The case centered around deals offered to 18 football players.
Jun 18, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Ryan Lochte after the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Finals during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Swimming competition at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2026

Ryan Lochte to Coach College Swimming at $34 an Hour

Missouri State announced it hired the 12-time Olympic medalist on Sunday.