NCAA Revenue Sharing & NIL – SEC Schools

SEC Conference
Members 2026-27
Year
Joined
Prior
Conference
Alabama1933Charter Member
Arkansas1991Big 12
Auburn 1933Charter Member
Florida1933Charter Member
Georgia1933Charter Member
Kentucky1933Charter Member
Louisiana State 1933Charter Member
Mississippi1933Charter Member
Mississippi State 1933Charter Member
Missouri2012Big 12
Oklahoma2024Big 12
South Carolina1991Independant
Tennessee1933Charter Member
Texas 2024Big 12
Texas A & M 2012Big 12
Vanderbilt 1933Charter Member
Total Members16

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 *
Texas46,409,00015,500,00030,909,000
Louisiana State40,314,00015,500,00024,814,000
Texas A&M32,720,00015,500,00017,220,000
Mississippi32,325,00015,500,00016,825,000
Alabama31,730,00015,500,00016,230,000
Georgia30,936,00015,500,00015,436,000
Tennessee29,642,00015,500,00014,142,000
Oklahoma28,747,00015,500,00013,247,000
Auburn27,152,00015,500,00011,652,000
Missouri25,558,00015,500,00010,058,000
Vanderbilt25,264,00015,500,0009,764,000
Florida24,969,00015,500,0009,469,000
Arkansas24,575,00015,500,0009,075,000
South Carolina24,080,00015,500,0008,580,000
Mississippi State22,585,00015,500,0007,085,000
Kentucky22,391,00015,500,0006,891,000
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)
Alabama161,716,712234,739,406-73,022,69467,428,25024,288,35614,002,20232,696,114
Arkansas156,856,293184,093,590-27,237,29738,038,437-984,86511,786,005
Florida151,855,770200,999,975-49,144,20553,495,6678,760,1546,953,94720,065,563
Georgia148,572,755240,135,282-91,562,52754,249,9323,871,93726,832,341-6,608,317
Kentucky151,520,856188,535,292-37,014,43632,710,445-851,520-3,452,471
LSU154,423,457219,649,409-65,225,95268,683,969-349,8413,807,858
Mississippi123,813,474183,768,038-59,954,56449,849,6103,697,8741,260,059-5,147,021
Mississippi State103,658,453164,482,616-60,824,16359,502,873-1,523,043201,753
Missouri105,572,863191,001,201-85,428,33846,492,00928,212,4441,590,218-9,133,667
Oklahoma105,501,662249,408,268-143,906,60698,240,268-1,928,336-43,738,002
South Carolina146,185,130203,259,302-57,074,17218,285,00938,700,3571,396,0281,307,222
Tennessee187,998,289288,186,290-100,188,001113,589,853-2,529,40715,931,259
Texas177,920,409372,651,999-194,731,590171,165,773-3,461,420-20,104,397
Texas A&M180,224,103228,350,501-48,126,39850,063,1144,995,734264,2917,196,741
Average per School ($)146,844,302224,947,226-78,102,92465,842,5158,037,6334,566,251343,475

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 ($)
SEC Schools 2025 *
Total
Revenue
Ticket
Sales
Media, NCAA
& Conference
Licenses &
Sponsorships
Game Day
Revenues
Game
Guarantees
Other
Revenue
Alabama161,716,71249,107,90377,780,88517,233,822-950,61816,643,484
Arkansas156,856,29363,481,71764,530,67919,416,5713,287,4571,013,0145,126,855
Florida151,855,77047,698,97975,378,78910,958,0325,561,5922,714,1959,544,183
Georgia148,572,75542,141,73272,750,42723,506,8543,469,4312,425,2184,279,093
Kentucky151,520,85648,784,25783,010,6397,115,4716,783,8451,452,1874,374,457
LSU154,423,45753,627,72273,100,4235,056,84410,753,4725,065,6906,819,306
Mississippi123,813,47426,582,19572,586,82412,457,2206,481,259211,5005,494,476
Mississippi State103,658,45318,748,27762,474,49414,716,1953,210,116415,0004,094,371
Missouri105,572,86323,397,60759,227,44610,413,7884,655,5015,0007,873,521
Oklahoma **105,501,66254,512,30215,346,85019,200,0454,833,1351,112,28810,497,042
South Carolina146,185,13033,353,88663,006,59510,684,07010,363,462232,00028,545,117
Tennessee187,998,28952,163,72062,641,55233,004,83911,817,6244,176,79224,193,762
Texas **177,920,40970,984,00618,199,22851,956,3228,871,9661,917,00025,991,887
Texas A&M180,224,10364,340,88363,150,27930,337,0256,797,03315,00015,583,883
Average per School ($)146,844,30246,351,79961,656,07919,004,0786,206,1351,550,39312,075,818

** 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
RecruitingTeam
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
Alabama234,739,40643,016,86444,306,48318,552,7703,554,953-6,162,0819,443,1294,799,06210,209,5134,212,16524,071,23216,338,2163,867,3935,949,8066,593,1872,885,3508,711,03222,066,170
Arkansas184,093,59038,680,08729,341,61212,660,4615,802,9181,095,8923,366,5169,637,4784,864,3248,253,3165,576,53318,833,3453,832,6271,690,5085,146,7226,390,3032,290,52023,769,6712,860,757
Florida200,999,97535,773,25146,505,08219,280,9712,421,6871,042,3394,400,79911,112,2904,984,9399,614,2819,349,45512,095,94112,415,7353,479,1051,097,3938,208,4882,509,23412,083,5874,625,398
Georgia240,135,28244,058,47139,084,11315,241,9943,805,972-4,979,7499,665,1551,543,49911,484,39342,837,82113,398,44818,905,6692,481,0563,853,8597,600,2754,008,2815,418,01911,768,508
Kentucky188,535,29240,012,89230,278,19319,336,7404,211,2691,593,0634,008,18311,232,9535,562,81111,982,1882,818,3599,049,84112,874,4871,630,6852,539,1113,879,6753,179,92912,664,09511,680,818
LSU219,649,40944,500,57538,211,81114,355,6694,495,1575,201,8185,263,29612,288,7294,815,95614,155,3022,298,34613,257,4985,887,1291,142,7536,105,5009,488,2702,460,7706,995,97728,724,853
Mississippi183,768,03838,433,06627,707,15212,870,1424,869,000909,8293,295,3958,741,0856,752,3767,103,06917,951,33312,798,6527,967,5751,280,7922,006,0727,626,3122,825,51711,749,4398,881,232
Mississippi State164,482,61626,424,26622,719,15411,809,2822,919,8954,025,2583,214,5549,087,5425,590,5487,960,65031,640,87911,548,4317,319,7181,517,4983,314,6032,229,6252,142,7533,351,3957,666,565
Missouri191,001,20132,905,64531,904,14813,789,8823,619,232249,2003,077,2858,623,9653,961,6874,093,17834,641,87710,539,1027,814,7591,044,1923,551,4984,363,2743,207,70710,573,56413,041,006
Oklahoma249,408,26840,541,21629,267,34817,242,3103,082,1571,585,2146,231,25910,941,8806,302,9077,513,6998,436,45817,637,28315,550,0593,103,1366,222,1783,863,3892,910,78964,505,8124,471,174
South Carolina203,259,30240,152,99742,969,05119,483,8344,461,519463,2033,460,8199,826,8715,531,88911,253,6201,601,69414,755,27618,435,1961,569,7801,607,5924,989,9744,483,2028,760,6909,452,095
Tennessee288,186,29045,071,63748,532,28725,357,2604,334,000-7,699,88517,072,6405,875,68710,896,45544,814,40012,732,343-2,668,4146,806,9841,585,283-30,034,41124,704,604
Texas372,651,99953,062,35950,276,85513,922,8936,204,6851,634,7215,785,19215,010,9614,020,40720,974,48234,962,74194,019,43811,933,8962,168,5035,687,73915,808,5973,003,94719,519,71414,654,869
Texas A&M228,350,50137,413,19233,010,81313,321,8474,513,9548,139,3414,898,79211,876,9644,425,3107,439,105362,52524,024,36014,688,5312,106,9095,750,0964,882,4602,055,61213,109,84436,330,846
Average per School ($)224,947,22640,003,32336,722,43616,230,4334,164,0281,852,8484,703,12911,040,1174,930,81410,209,51817,250,32820,625,79910,997,4002,125,0524,259,9406,250,6512,711,68716,517,66114,352,062

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 School
FYE 2025 ($)FYE 2024 ($)
Operating Revenue146,844,302133,625,014
Operating Expenses224,947,226205,027,769
Net Operating Loss-78,102,924-71,402,755
Booster Contributions65,842,51565,175,179
School Support & Student Fees8,037,6336,984,108
Endowment & Investment4,566,2513,082,915
Net Surplus ($)343,4753,839,447

Average SEC School Operating Revenues: 2025 v 2024

Operating Revenues ($)
Average per SEC School
FYE 2025 ($)FYE 2024 ($)
Ticket Sales46,351,79940,750,816
Media, NCAA & Conference61,656,07959,016,779
Licenses & Sponsorships19,004,07818,423,111
Games Day Revenues6,206,1355,373,252
Game Guarantees1,550,3931,616,093
Other Operating Revenues12,075,8188,444,963
Average Per School ($)146,844,302133,625,014

Average SEC School Operating Expenses: 2025 v 2024

Operating Expenses
Average per SEC School
FYE 2025 ($)FYE 2024 ($)
Coaching Salaries40,003,32339,151,413
Administrative Salaries36,722,43634,280,939
Athletic Scholarships16,230,43316,112,357
Game Guarantees4,164,0284,073,390
Severance Payments1,852,8484,831,940
Recruiting4,703,1294,777,574
Team Travel11,040,11711,440,747
Uniforms, Equip & Supplies4,930,8145,064,225
Game Day Expenses10,209,5189,491,608
Fundraising & Marketing17,250,3285,220,212
Facilities debt service & leases20,625,79918,726,069
Facility Maint & operations10,997,400**
Athlete Medical & Insurance2,125,0522,106,706
Student Athlete Meals4,259,9404,002,809
Post-Season Expenses6,250,6512,900,371
Alston & Other Educ benefits2,711,687**
Overhead & Administration16,517,66125,939,027
Other Operating Expenses14,352,06216,908,382
Revenue Sharing (2026)--
Average per School ($)224,947,226205,027,769

** 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
Tennessee285,364,027204,906,178180,206,473152,662,16387%
Texas277,413,781237,475,591199,292,967192,754,76644%
Oklahoma234,426,470188,623,620181,311,331185,625,89326%
Alabama229,908,712243,096,720191,190,486174,715,50132%
Texas A & M228,301,283223,847,369174,723,140157,702,31045%
Georgia226,736,834182,882,099176,104,818159,508,17842%
Louisiana State219,649,408218,545,643199,111,003192,770,40014%
South Carolina203,259,302183,652,273160,420,147144,815,37740%
Florida199,237,539180,556,616176,795,879177,969,65512%
Auburn195,930,163182,486,390183,653,846146,645,90034%
Arkansas188,988,863170,011,614170,990,473148,280,37827%
Kentucky186,609,679193,915,782166,220,830151,254,46023%
Missouri181,114,849157,734,870124,293,939107,823,99068%
Mississippi171,119,339145,401,658136,764,296123,796,19138%
Mississippi State157,301,826125,114,437113,473,523100,888,46456%
Vanderbilt146,388,389140,707,218125,133,666110,941,94832%
Average per School ($)208,234,404186,184,880166,230,426151,759,72337%

* 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