• Loading stock data...
Monday, March 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.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

How Conferences Cash In on March Madness 

The men’s tournament will pay out more than $220 million.

MLBPA Says Leadership Shake-Up Won’t Affect Bargaining Prep

The union’s new leader says players are “locked in” for upcoming labor talks.
Mar 13, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Dominican Republic first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, and center fielder Julio Rodr’guez celebrate scoring a run against the Korea in the second inning during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park.

WBC Semifinals Featuring US, Dominican Stars Will Be ‘Spectacle’

The international tournament posts more viewership and attendance records.
Mar 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) shoots against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at United Center.

‘Players Are Workers’ and Deserve Right to Unionize: Former NLRB Exec

The SCORE Act would not designate student-athletes as employees.

Featured Today

Alex Eala Has Become One of the Biggest Draws in Tennis

Eala will face Coco Gauff in the third round at Indian Wells.
Jun 9, 2021; Paris, France; The racket of Coco Gauff (USA) after she smashed it during her match against Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) on day 11 of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros
March 6, 2026

The ‘Rage Room’ Is the Hottest Place in Tennis

The idea came from a player podcast.
March 5, 2026

Mark DeRosa Is Still Baseball’s Swiss Army Knife

DeRosa is the sport’s utility player both on the field and off.
Nicole Silveira
March 3, 2026

The Tattoo Marking Membership in the Most Exclusive Club in Sports

For athletes, the Olympic rings tattoo is “about everything it took.”
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.

Viral McNeese Student Manager Makes March Madness Return

Khan said he executed more than 20 endorsement deals last year.
March 14, 2026

Sacramento State’s Only Shot at MAC Revenue: Make the CFP

Sacramento State forfeits MAC revenue but could earn money with a CFP berth.
Mar 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts with guard Isaiah Evans (3) and guard Caleb Foster (1) after being fouled during the first half against the NC State Wolfpack at Lenovo Center.
March 14, 2026

Duke Continues to Embrace the Fountain of Youth

Duke continues to build winning programs around star freshmen. 
Sponsored

Paul Rabil: Why Owning a Team Is a 100x Bet

Paul Rabil shares how he left an established league to build PLL.
March 14, 2026

Big East Tourney Keeps Delivering—Even in a Football-Dominated Era

St. John’s routs UConn as Big East tourney proves league still thriving.
UCLA Bruins celebrates Sunday, March 8, 2026, after the Big Ten Tournament Championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA Bruins defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 96-45, for back to back Big Ten championships.
March 14, 2026

UCLA Women’s Basketball Strives for a Final Four Return

Rosters are getting even older—and UCLA is no different.
March 13, 2026

Big 12 Ditches LED Court Mid-Tourney After Player Concerns

Widespread player complaints helped lead to the mid-tournament switch.
Miami RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) and guard Luke Skaljac (3) leave the floor as UMass Minutemen forward Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates a win after the final buzzer of the second half of Mid-American Conference Tournament first round game between the Miami RedHawks and the UMass Minutemen at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Top-seeded Miami was eliminated from the tournament with an 87-82 loss to the Minutemen.
March 12, 2026

Miami (Ohio) Debate Intensifies After RedHawks’ First Loss

The previously undefeated RedHawks lost to UMass in the MAC tournament.