SEC Conference
Members 2026-27Year
JoinedPrior
Conference
Alabama 1933 Charter Member
Arkansas 1991 Big 12
Auburn 1933 Charter Member
Florida 1933 Charter Member
Georgia 1933 Charter Member
Kentucky 1933 Charter Member
Louisiana State 1933 Charter Member
Mississippi 1933 Charter Member
Mississippi State 1933 Charter Member
Missouri 2012 Big 12
Oklahoma 2024 Big 12
South Carolina 1991 Independant
Tennessee 1933 Charter Member
Texas 2024 Big 12
Texas A & M 2012 Big 12
Vanderbilt 1933 Charter Member
Total Members 16
Estimated Football Roster Costs 2026: SEC Teams
We estimate that SEC football teams will have a median roster cost of almost $ 28 million for the 2026-27 season, of which approximately $ 15 million will be paid via revenue sharing and $ 13 million via third-party NIL:
Estimated Football Roster Costs
SEC Schools 2026-27 ($)
Total Payments
to Athletes ($)Paid by School via
Revenue Sharing Paid via Third-Party
Commercial NIL *
Texas 46,409,000 15,500,000 30,909,000
Louisiana State 40,314,000 15,500,000 24,814,000
Texas A&M 32,720,000 15,500,000 17,220,000
Mississippi 32,325,000 15,500,000 16,825,000
Alabama 31,730,000 15,500,000 16,230,000
Georgia 30,936,000 15,500,000 15,436,000
Tennessee 29,642,000 15,500,000 14,142,000
Oklahoma 28,747,000 15,500,000 13,247,000
Auburn 27,152,000 15,500,000 11,652,000
Missouri 25,558,000 15,500,000 10,058,000
Vanderbilt 25,264,000 15,500,000 9,764,000
Florida 24,969,000 15,500,000 9,469,000
Arkansas 24,575,000 15,500,000 9,075,000
South Carolina 24,080,000 15,500,000 8,580,000
Mississippi State 22,585,000 15,500,000 7,085,000
Kentucky 22,391,000 15,500,000 6,891,000
Conference Median ($) $ 27,950,000 $ 15,500,000 $ 12,450,000
* Data on third-party NIL is private, and almost all schools keep this information very close to the vest. However, we believe these estimates are reasonably accurate and conservative. The University of Alabama’s General Manager has stated that some schools with high aspirations are spending over $ 40 million to assemble championship contending teams, and there are (unsupported) estimates from other GMs of a few $ 60 million football rosters. See our methodology page for how we arrived at these estimates.
While third-party NIL is technically independent of the schools (and not recorded on their books), a significant portion of these payments are funded by school boosters and sponsors, i.e. money that otherwise would likely have gone directly to the schools. Consequently, the currently uncontrolled third-party NIL market almost certainly results in an added strain on college athletic department finances.
2025 Operating Results: SEC Schools
Per NCAA reporting, SEC schools averaged a net operating loss of $ 78 million per school in 2025. These losses were funded by booster contributions averaging $ 66 million per school, combined school support and student fees averaging $ 8 million per school and investment / endowment income averaging $ 4 million per school:
| Operating Results * SEC Schools 2025 ($) | Operating Revenue | Operating Expenses | Operating Loss 2025 | Contributions | Student Fees & School Support | Endowment & Investment | Surplus (Deficit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 161,716,712 | 234,739,406 | -73,022,694 | 67,428,250 | 24,288,356 | 14,002,202 | 32,696,114 |
| Arkansas | 156,856,293 | 184,093,590 | -27,237,297 | 38,038,437 | - | 984,865 | 11,786,005 |
| Florida | 151,855,770 | 200,999,975 | -49,144,205 | 53,495,667 | 8,760,154 | 6,953,947 | 20,065,563 |
| Georgia | 148,572,755 | 240,135,282 | -91,562,527 | 54,249,932 | 3,871,937 | 26,832,341 | -6,608,317 |
| Kentucky | 151,520,856 | 188,535,292 | -37,014,436 | 32,710,445 | - | 851,520 | -3,452,471 |
| LSU | 154,423,457 | 219,649,409 | -65,225,952 | 68,683,969 | - | 349,841 | 3,807,858 |
| Mississippi | 123,813,474 | 183,768,038 | -59,954,564 | 49,849,610 | 3,697,874 | 1,260,059 | -5,147,021 |
| Mississippi State | 103,658,453 | 164,482,616 | -60,824,163 | 59,502,873 | - | 1,523,043 | 201,753 |
| Missouri | 105,572,863 | 191,001,201 | -85,428,338 | 46,492,009 | 28,212,444 | 1,590,218 | -9,133,667 |
| Oklahoma | 105,501,662 | 249,408,268 | -143,906,606 | 98,240,268 | - | 1,928,336 | -43,738,002 |
| South Carolina | 146,185,130 | 203,259,302 | -57,074,172 | 18,285,009 | 38,700,357 | 1,396,028 | 1,307,222 |
| Tennessee | 187,998,289 | 288,186,290 | -100,188,001 | 113,589,853 | - | 2,529,407 | 15,931,259 |
| Texas | 177,920,409 | 372,651,999 | -194,731,590 | 171,165,773 | - | 3,461,420 | -20,104,397 |
| Texas A&M | 180,224,103 | 228,350,501 | -48,126,398 | 50,063,114 | 4,995,734 | 264,291 | 7,196,741 |
| Average per School ($) | 146,844,302 | 224,947,226 | -78,102,924 | 65,842,515 | 8,037,633 | 4,566,251 | 343,475 |
Some enormous operating losses here which for the must part were covered by equally enormous booster contributions. However, these losses are before revenue sharing and additional scholarships add another $ 25 million in costs to most SEC budgets this year. One of the key questions in the NIL era is will booster contributions keep pace with the added costs of revenue sharing and additional scholarships? Or will athletic departments need additional funding from general school funds to meet increasing expenses.
* Data available for public universities only.
2025 Operating Revenues: SEC Schools
Operating Revenues are sources of income received from exchange transactions. This is distinct from athletic department support such as booster contributions, student fees and school funding. This distinction is important when evaluating an organization’s ongoing ability to meet expenses.
Operating Revenues ($) SEC Schools 2025 * | Total Revenue | Ticket Sales | Media, NCAA & Conference | Licenses & Sponsorships | Game Day Revenues | Game Guarantees | Other Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 161,716,712 | 49,107,903 | 77,780,885 | 17,233,822 | - | 950,618 | 16,643,484 |
| Arkansas | 156,856,293 | 63,481,717 | 64,530,679 | 19,416,571 | 3,287,457 | 1,013,014 | 5,126,855 |
| Florida | 151,855,770 | 47,698,979 | 75,378,789 | 10,958,032 | 5,561,592 | 2,714,195 | 9,544,183 |
| Georgia | 148,572,755 | 42,141,732 | 72,750,427 | 23,506,854 | 3,469,431 | 2,425,218 | 4,279,093 |
| Kentucky | 151,520,856 | 48,784,257 | 83,010,639 | 7,115,471 | 6,783,845 | 1,452,187 | 4,374,457 |
| LSU | 154,423,457 | 53,627,722 | 73,100,423 | 5,056,844 | 10,753,472 | 5,065,690 | 6,819,306 |
| Mississippi | 123,813,474 | 26,582,195 | 72,586,824 | 12,457,220 | 6,481,259 | 211,500 | 5,494,476 |
| Mississippi State | 103,658,453 | 18,748,277 | 62,474,494 | 14,716,195 | 3,210,116 | 415,000 | 4,094,371 |
| Missouri | 105,572,863 | 23,397,607 | 59,227,446 | 10,413,788 | 4,655,501 | 5,000 | 7,873,521 |
| Oklahoma ** | 105,501,662 | 54,512,302 | 15,346,850 | 19,200,045 | 4,833,135 | 1,112,288 | 10,497,042 |
| South Carolina | 146,185,130 | 33,353,886 | 63,006,595 | 10,684,070 | 10,363,462 | 232,000 | 28,545,117 |
| Tennessee | 187,998,289 | 52,163,720 | 62,641,552 | 33,004,839 | 11,817,624 | 4,176,792 | 24,193,762 |
| Texas ** | 177,920,409 | 70,984,006 | 18,199,228 | 51,956,322 | 8,871,966 | 1,917,000 | 25,991,887 |
| Texas A&M | 180,224,103 | 64,340,883 | 63,150,279 | 30,337,025 | 6,797,033 | 15,000 | 15,583,883 |
| Average per School ($) | 146,844,302 | 46,351,799 | 61,656,079 | 19,004,078 | 6,206,135 | 1,550,393 | 12,075,818 |
** As part of their transition from the Big-12, Oklahoma and Texas both received only a fractional share of the SEC media contract in 2025.
2025 Operating Expenses: SEC Schools
Operating Expenses SEC Schools 2025 ($) | Total Expenses | Coaching Salaries | Admin Salaries | Athletic Scholarships | Game Guarantees | Severance Payments | Recruiting | Team Travel | Uniforms & Equipment | Game Day Expenses | Marketing & Fundraising | Athletic facility debt service, rents & leases | Athletic facility operating costs | Athlete Medical | Athlete Meals | Post-season Expenses | Alston & other Educ benefits | Overhead & Administration | Other Oper Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 234,739,406 | 43,016,864 | 44,306,483 | 18,552,770 | 3,554,953 | - | 6,162,081 | 9,443,129 | 4,799,062 | 10,209,513 | 4,212,165 | 24,071,232 | 16,338,216 | 3,867,393 | 5,949,806 | 6,593,187 | 2,885,350 | 8,711,032 | 22,066,170 |
| Arkansas | 184,093,590 | 38,680,087 | 29,341,612 | 12,660,461 | 5,802,918 | 1,095,892 | 3,366,516 | 9,637,478 | 4,864,324 | 8,253,316 | 5,576,533 | 18,833,345 | 3,832,627 | 1,690,508 | 5,146,722 | 6,390,303 | 2,290,520 | 23,769,671 | 2,860,757 |
| Florida | 200,999,975 | 35,773,251 | 46,505,082 | 19,280,971 | 2,421,687 | 1,042,339 | 4,400,799 | 11,112,290 | 4,984,939 | 9,614,281 | 9,349,455 | 12,095,941 | 12,415,735 | 3,479,105 | 1,097,393 | 8,208,488 | 2,509,234 | 12,083,587 | 4,625,398 |
| Georgia | 240,135,282 | 44,058,471 | 39,084,113 | 15,241,994 | 3,805,972 | - | 4,979,749 | 9,665,155 | 1,543,499 | 11,484,393 | 42,837,821 | 13,398,448 | 18,905,669 | 2,481,056 | 3,853,859 | 7,600,275 | 4,008,281 | 5,418,019 | 11,768,508 |
| Kentucky | 188,535,292 | 40,012,892 | 30,278,193 | 19,336,740 | 4,211,269 | 1,593,063 | 4,008,183 | 11,232,953 | 5,562,811 | 11,982,188 | 2,818,359 | 9,049,841 | 12,874,487 | 1,630,685 | 2,539,111 | 3,879,675 | 3,179,929 | 12,664,095 | 11,680,818 |
| LSU | 219,649,409 | 44,500,575 | 38,211,811 | 14,355,669 | 4,495,157 | 5,201,818 | 5,263,296 | 12,288,729 | 4,815,956 | 14,155,302 | 2,298,346 | 13,257,498 | 5,887,129 | 1,142,753 | 6,105,500 | 9,488,270 | 2,460,770 | 6,995,977 | 28,724,853 |
| Mississippi | 183,768,038 | 38,433,066 | 27,707,152 | 12,870,142 | 4,869,000 | 909,829 | 3,295,395 | 8,741,085 | 6,752,376 | 7,103,069 | 17,951,333 | 12,798,652 | 7,967,575 | 1,280,792 | 2,006,072 | 7,626,312 | 2,825,517 | 11,749,439 | 8,881,232 |
| Mississippi State | 164,482,616 | 26,424,266 | 22,719,154 | 11,809,282 | 2,919,895 | 4,025,258 | 3,214,554 | 9,087,542 | 5,590,548 | 7,960,650 | 31,640,879 | 11,548,431 | 7,319,718 | 1,517,498 | 3,314,603 | 2,229,625 | 2,142,753 | 3,351,395 | 7,666,565 |
| Missouri | 191,001,201 | 32,905,645 | 31,904,148 | 13,789,882 | 3,619,232 | 249,200 | 3,077,285 | 8,623,965 | 3,961,687 | 4,093,178 | 34,641,877 | 10,539,102 | 7,814,759 | 1,044,192 | 3,551,498 | 4,363,274 | 3,207,707 | 10,573,564 | 13,041,006 |
| Oklahoma | 249,408,268 | 40,541,216 | 29,267,348 | 17,242,310 | 3,082,157 | 1,585,214 | 6,231,259 | 10,941,880 | 6,302,907 | 7,513,699 | 8,436,458 | 17,637,283 | 15,550,059 | 3,103,136 | 6,222,178 | 3,863,389 | 2,910,789 | 64,505,812 | 4,471,174 |
| South Carolina | 203,259,302 | 40,152,997 | 42,969,051 | 19,483,834 | 4,461,519 | 463,203 | 3,460,819 | 9,826,871 | 5,531,889 | 11,253,620 | 1,601,694 | 14,755,276 | 18,435,196 | 1,569,780 | 1,607,592 | 4,989,974 | 4,483,202 | 8,760,690 | 9,452,095 |
| Tennessee | 288,186,290 | 45,071,637 | 48,532,287 | 25,357,260 | 4,334,000 | - | 7,699,885 | 17,072,640 | 5,875,687 | 10,896,455 | 44,814,400 | 12,732,343 | - | 2,668,414 | 6,806,984 | 1,585,283 | - | 30,034,411 | 24,704,604 |
| Texas | 372,651,999 | 53,062,359 | 50,276,855 | 13,922,893 | 6,204,685 | 1,634,721 | 5,785,192 | 15,010,961 | 4,020,407 | 20,974,482 | 34,962,741 | 94,019,438 | 11,933,896 | 2,168,503 | 5,687,739 | 15,808,597 | 3,003,947 | 19,519,714 | 14,654,869 |
| Texas A&M | 228,350,501 | 37,413,192 | 33,010,813 | 13,321,847 | 4,513,954 | 8,139,341 | 4,898,792 | 11,876,964 | 4,425,310 | 7,439,105 | 362,525 | 24,024,360 | 14,688,531 | 2,106,909 | 5,750,096 | 4,882,460 | 2,055,612 | 13,109,844 | 36,330,846 |
| Average per School ($) | 224,947,226 | 40,003,323 | 36,722,436 | 16,230,433 | 4,164,028 | 1,852,848 | 4,703,129 | 11,040,117 | 4,930,814 | 10,209,518 | 17,250,328 | 20,625,799 | 10,997,400 | 2,125,052 | 4,259,940 | 6,250,651 | 2,711,687 | 16,517,661 | 14,352,062 |
Operating expenses are expected to increase significantly in 2026 due to impact of revenue sharing and increased scholarship limits for all sports – likely around $ 25 million for most SEC schools.
Average SEC School Operating Results: 2025 v 2024
Net Operating Results
Average per SEC SchoolFYE 2025 ($) FYE 2024 ($)
![]()
Operating Revenue 146,844,302 133,625,014
Operating Expenses 224,947,226 205,027,769
Net Operating Loss -78,102,924 -71,402,755
Booster Contributions 65,842,515 65,175,179
School Support & Student Fees 8,037,633 6,984,108
Endowment & Investment 4,566,251 3,082,915
Net Surplus ($) 343,475 3,839,447
Average SEC School Operating Revenues: 2025 v 2024
Operating Revenues ($)
Average per SEC SchoolFYE 2025 ($) FYE 2024 ($)
Ticket Sales 46,351,799 40,750,816
Media, NCAA & Conference 61,656,079 59,016,779
Licenses & Sponsorships 19,004,078 18,423,111
Games Day Revenues 6,206,135 5,373,252
Game Guarantees 1,550,393 1,616,093
Other Operating Revenues 12,075,818 8,444,963
Average Per School ($) 146,844,302 133,625,014
Average SEC School Operating Expenses: 2025 v 2024
Operating Expenses
Average per SEC SchoolFYE 2025 ($) FYE 2024 ($)
Coaching Salaries 40,003,323 39,151,413
Administrative Salaries 36,722,436 34,280,939
Athletic Scholarships 16,230,433 16,112,357
Game Guarantees 4,164,028 4,073,390
Severance Payments 1,852,848 4,831,940
Recruiting 4,703,129 4,777,574
Team Travel 11,040,117 11,440,747
Uniforms, Equip & Supplies 4,930,814 5,064,225
Game Day Expenses 10,209,518 9,491,608
Fundraising & Marketing 17,250,328 5,220,212
Facilities debt service & leases 20,625,799 18,726,069
Facility Maint & operations 10,997,400 **
Athlete Medical & Insurance 2,125,052 2,106,706
Student Athlete Meals 4,259,940 4,002,809
Post-Season Expenses 6,250,651 2,900,371
Alston & Other Educ benefits 2,711,687 **
Overhead & Administration 16,517,661 25,939,027
Other Operating Expenses 14,352,062 16,908,382
Revenue Sharing (2026) - -
Average per School ($) 224,947,226 205,027,769
** New reporting cathegories beginning in 2025.
EADA Operating Expenses: SEC Schools 2022-25
Per EADA (aka Title IX) reporting, average 2025 athletic department operating costs were $ 208 million for SEC schools, a 37% increase in expenses over a 3-year span:
| SEC Athletic Departments Annual Expenses 2022-25 * | FY 2025 ($) | FY 2024 ($) | FY 2023 ($) | FY 2022 ($) | 3-Year % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 285,364,027 | 204,906,178 | 180,206,473 | 152,662,163 | 87% |
| Texas | 277,413,781 | 237,475,591 | 199,292,967 | 192,754,766 | 44% |
| Oklahoma | 234,426,470 | 188,623,620 | 181,311,331 | 185,625,893 | 26% |
| Alabama | 229,908,712 | 243,096,720 | 191,190,486 | 174,715,501 | 32% |
| Texas A & M | 228,301,283 | 223,847,369 | 174,723,140 | 157,702,310 | 45% |
| Georgia | 226,736,834 | 182,882,099 | 176,104,818 | 159,508,178 | 42% |
| Louisiana State | 219,649,408 | 218,545,643 | 199,111,003 | 192,770,400 | 14% |
| South Carolina | 203,259,302 | 183,652,273 | 160,420,147 | 144,815,377 | 40% |
| Florida | 199,237,539 | 180,556,616 | 176,795,879 | 177,969,655 | 12% |
| Auburn | 195,930,163 | 182,486,390 | 183,653,846 | 146,645,900 | 34% |
| Arkansas | 188,988,863 | 170,011,614 | 170,990,473 | 148,280,378 | 27% |
| Kentucky | 186,609,679 | 193,915,782 | 166,220,830 | 151,254,460 | 23% |
| Missouri | 181,114,849 | 157,734,870 | 124,293,939 | 107,823,990 | 68% |
| Mississippi | 171,119,339 | 145,401,658 | 136,764,296 | 123,796,191 | 38% |
| Mississippi State | 157,301,826 | 125,114,437 | 113,473,523 | 100,888,464 | 56% |
| Vanderbilt | 146,388,389 | 140,707,218 | 125,133,666 | 110,941,948 | 32% |
| Average per School ($) | 208,234,404 | 186,184,880 | 166,230,426 | 151,759,723 | 37% |
* Expenses per Equity in Athletics Act (EADA) annual reporting. EADA differs from NCAA reporting with the primary difference being that EADA reporting does not require disclosure of payments made for athletic facilities debt service and leases. Consequently, EADA reporting typically results in lower annual expenses than NCAA reporting at most schools. See our methodology page for more detail and disclosures.
Questions on our data? Contact us at: NIL-NCAA.com
Statistics compiled & edited by Patrick O’Rourke, CPA Washington, DC ![]()


