• Loading stock data...
Monday, March 30, 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

NFL Warns Prediction Markets Operators Over Vulnerable Bets

Ongoing litigation in the burgeoning industry has muddied the waters.
Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; NBC Sports Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth during the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

PFF Lays Off Several Employees Amid Company Sale

Teamworks’ purchase of PFF’s enterprise business side is reportedly worth nine figures.

Browns’ NFL Draft Pick Trade Proposal Falls Flat, Withdrawn

Support is lacking for the liberalized roster-management rule.

Featured Today

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA;UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) dunks the ball against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena

March Madness Coaches Debate ‘Blueblood’ in NIL Era

The term’s meaning was up for debate at men’s March Madness.
Maxime Vachier Lagrave
March 25, 2026

The Planet’s Best Chess Players Are Having Their LIV Golf Moment

Chess’s most prestigious tournament is battling a splashy Saudi event.
Beau Brune/LSU
March 22, 2026

College Athletic Departments Are Becoming Media Companies

“There’s only so many tickets you can sell, but content is infinite.”
March 18, 2026

AI College Recruiting Reels Aren’t Fooling Scouts

College coaches and recruiters are way ahead of cheating athletes.
exclusive

Alabama, Nebraska, Michigan Spent Most on CFB Private Jet Travel

Texas A&M spent $493,000 on coach Mike Elko’s travel alone.
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) attempts to dribble the ball past St. John's Red Storm forward Bryce Hopkins (23) in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena
March 27, 2026

Duke vs. St. John’s: The Battle of Dueling Roster Strategies

In the “unrestricted free agency” era, the Blue Devils won out.
March 29, 2026

UConn Men, Women Reach Final Four Despite Financial Pressures

UConn men and women both reach Final Four in rare feat.
Sponsored

Cameron Boozer & Cayden Boozer Talk Pressure, Benefit of Playing Together

The Boozer twins have built their games, and their identities, side by side.
Feb 22, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Reyna Scott (1) celebrates after time expires against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center
March 27, 2026

UVA Shows Anyone Can Win in Women’s Basketball—at a Price

Ohanian’s millions set a blueprint for winning in the NCAA.
Senate Capitol Hill
March 26, 2026

The Biggest Obstacle to a Bipartisan College Sports Bill

Democrats favor collective bargaining as a potential solution.
March 26, 2026

Will Wade Returning to LSU Seven Years After ‘Strong Ass Offer’

Wade was fired from LSU in 2022.
March 24, 2026

North Carolina Fires Hubert Davis, Will Pay $5.3 Million Buyout

The school said Tuesday night it would honor the coach’s contract.