Full Breakdown
Big Ten Distributes Record $1.37 Billion to 18 Member Schools in 2024-25
5/2/2026, 10:23:15 AM
Record Distribution Highlights
The Big Ten announced a $1.37 billion revenue distribution to its 18 members for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, a $490 million (55 %) increase over the $883 million paid in 2023-24, largest payout in league history.
Context – Media Rights Deal and Conference Expansion
The rise follows the first full year of the conference’s seven-year, $7 billion media-rights deal with FOX, CBS and NBC, fully effective for 2024-25. In August 2024, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC joined, expanding the league to 18 schools. The season also featured the 12-team College Football Playoff, with Ohio State, Indiana, Penn State and Oregon qualifying.
Financial Breakdown and Payouts
The $1.37 billion equals $72 million per school (some reports list $76.1 million). Ohio State received $91.57 million, Penn State $88.92 million; other full members earned $76.01-$79.87 million. Oregon and Washington, under a partial-share schedule through 2030, received $48.4 million and $46.7 million. Playoff participation added $4 million per team, $4 million for quarter-finals, $6 million for semifinals and $6 million for the championship. The SEC distributed $1.03 billion to its 16 members, averaging $72.4 million each.
Leadership and Expenditures
Commissioner Tony Petitti earned over $4.5 million in 2024-25; commissioner Jim Delany received $5.82 million in bonuses and $600 000 in consulting fees. The league’s tax filing shows $6 million spent on legal services and $5 million on officiating-technology upgrades.
Official Conference Statements
The press release said the record payout reflects the implementation of its broadcast agreements and success in the expanded College Football Playoff. A league-issued statement added that the distributions “provide meaningful support to institutions … to more than 14,000 Big Ten student-athletes.”
Conflicting Figures and Gaps
Sources differ on the per-school average—$72 million versus $76.1 million—and on the number of fully vested members, with some citing 16 and others treating all 18 as recipients. Details on the reduced shares for Oregon and Washington are not disclosed.
What Lies Ahead
The media-rights deal runs through 2029-30, suggesting continued high payouts. Discussions about expanding the NCAA tournament and a 24-team College Football Playoff could affect future allocations, while the reduced-share schedule for new members remains until 2030.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The distributions provide meaningful support to institutions in their continued effort to provide broad-based athletic opportunities to more than 14,000 Big Ten student-athletes,” — Big Ten spokesperson, league-issued statement
- “The record disbursement reflects the first full year of the Big Ten’s current broadcast media rights agreements, as well as the conference’s success in the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff,” — Big Ten, press release
- “It also marks the first year in which the conference was comprised of 18 world-class universities following the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington in August 2024.” — Big Ten, press release
- “The Big Ten has claimed the past 3 college football national titles, starting with Michigan in the 2023 season, followed by OSU in 2024 and Indiana this past season.” — Big Ten communications, 2025-26 season recap
