The Big 12 set a revenue record in 2014-15.
According to USA Today, the conference raked in $268 million for the year that ended on June 30. It's a revenue boost of $40 million, and that boost is largely fueled by the College Football Playoff.
Despite not having a team in the final four after the 2014 season, the Big 12 got $32 million from the playoff format. The conference also got $8 million more in television revenue.
West Virginia and TCU also reportedly received less money than the other eight schools because they're newer members to the conference.
The Big 12’s eight member schools other than relative newcomers West Virginia and Texas Christian received revenue shares ranging from $22.9 million to $23.8 million, according to the return.
TCU received $20.4 million, West Virginia $20.3 million. During the conference’s 2014 fiscal year, TCU got $14.3 million, West Virginia $14.2 million.
In case you were wondering how it stacks up to the SEC, the answer is not well. The SEC reported revenues of north of $500 million for the 14-team conference. Part of that is because the Big 12 does not have its own television network. Texas' revenues from the Longhorn Network are not part of the returns.
If the Big 12 expands, it will likely need to find new revenue sources, – TV perhaps? The conference's member schools have been unsurprisingly hesitant to split the current pot 12 ways instead of 10 given the conference is already at a financial disadvantage.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
