The Texas Longhorns have always been one of the most notable athletic programs in the country. Between a universally recognizable logo and an unmistakable color, the Horns have made themselves into a brand unlike many other teams in the world.
That much was always going to be true for Texas. However, the actual monetary value of the Longhorns didn't reach its peak until just a few years ago, when Texas jumped ship from the Big 12 to join the SEC.
Now, in a recent valuation done by The Athletic, Texas is worth $2.46 billion, topping the Ohio State Buckeyes ($2.3B), Notre Dame Fighting Irish ($2.1B), and Michigan Wolverines ($2B) to be the most valuable college football program in the country.
- Texas Longhorns, $2.46 billion
- Ohio State Buckeyes, $2.3B
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish, $2.1B
- Michigan Wolverines, $2B
- Georgia Bulldogs, $1.95B
- Alabama Crimson Tide, $1.8B
- Oklahoma Sooners, $1.6 (TIED)
- USC Trojans, $1.6B (TIED)
- Tennessee Volunteers, $1.57B
- Penn State Nittany Lions, $1.4
Yes, the program was already one of the highest-valued programs in the nation, but when it comes to how much the Big 12 could allot to each team, it came nowhere near what the SEC does. So, before making the move, Texas simply didn't see the same amount of conference-related revenue that it does now.
The numbers that The Athletic used are based on what the publication believed the teams would sell for on an open market, the way that professional sports franchises can be bought and sold.
Leaving the Big 12 was the best financial decision Texas has ever made
"Our valuation puts Texas on par with the 2020 sale of the New York Mets," The Athletic's Matt Baker wrote. "The Longhorns have elite resources, an ideal location and a spot in a premier conference."
For starters, the television deals that the SEC sees compared to the Big 12 are almost laughable. Every year, ESPN and Fox pitch in for about $380 million on their combined Big 12 media rights deal. For every individual broadcast of an SEC football game, ESPN coughs up approximately $20 million.
Annually, between the overarching broadcast deal and the SEC Network, ESPN spends upwards of $900 million on the SEC. That gives the Horns over $56 million from the sports network alone, compared to the $23.75 million Texas could expect if it were still in the Big 12.
If you're curious, FOX spends roughly $550 on Big Ten games every year, giving teams like Ohio State and Michigan a leg up over teams in the Big 12 or ACC as well.
Other than Notre Dame, the entire top-10 list is comprised of teams in the SEC or Big Ten, with the Longhorns' conference claiming five and the Big Ten claiming four.
Also read: Steve Sarkisian salary & contract details: How much does Texas' coach get paid per year?
The reason the Fighting Irish are able to keep up with the rest of the country while remaining an independent program? The University of Notre Dame is sitting with a $20-billion endowment in its back pocket just to kick things off, and the alumni pool that the Irish claim is one of the most fiercely loyal and shockingly wealthy of any school out there.
Don't worry, Texas's is bigger, with UT-Austin holding a $20.85-billion endowment (as of 2024) and a system-wide endowment of over $47 billion, the second largest in the country.
There is simply no competing with the Longhorns when it comes to which team to take to the bank. Now, all Texas needs to do is put all of that money to use and bring home another National Championship.
Add us as a preferred source on Google