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Money trail sources
Every source cited in this section (49). Each figure on the section's pages links straight to one of these. IDs: SP = sponsors/advertisers research, MD = media research, M-S = money-track source reused here.
Money trail49 rows
| ID | Outlet | Title | Date | Type | What it supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M-S1 | The Athletic (NYT) | Historic House v. NCAA settlement gets final approval, allowing schools to pay college athletes | 2025-06-06 | see money track | Final approval June 6, 2025; ~$20.5M cap 2025-26; ~$2.8B damages over 10 years; 10-year model |
| M-S6 | College Sports Commission | NIL Go Data Report (Sept. 9, 2026) | 2026-09-09 | see money track | Cumulative NIL Go stats through Aug 31, 2026: 46,478 deals cleared ($582.49M); 2,296 not cleared ($156.93M); Jul-Aug 2026 12,283 cleared ($227.25M); ~200 deals/day; 68% resolved within 7 days |
| M-S10 | CBS Sports | CSC wins arbitration denying Nebraska NIL deals, but bigger fight looms in court | 2026 (exact date not captured; spring 2026) | see money track | First binding arbitration upheld CSC rejection of Nebraska-Playfly deals (>$1M combined); 21 of 1,153 declined deals went to arbitration; first 10 months 26,556 deals ($242.35M) cleared |
| M-S11 | U.S. Senate Commerce Committee (Democratic office) | Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act 77-22 | 2026-09-28 | see money track | Senate passed PCSA 77-22; Cruz/Cantwell; moves to House |
| M-S47 | Office of Sen. Maria Cantwell (advocacy document) | Unsustainable Growth in Spending for Sports... (snapshot, PDF, raw/) | 2026-09-15 | see money track | Only 14 of 53 public P4 departments covered expenses in 2024-25 (Knight-Newhouse); median P4 athletics debt $120.3M; general-fund support at power schools $445M -> $1.2B (2015-2024); 87% non-P4 / 48% P4 mandatory student fees; coaching salaries +370% 2005-2023; >100 women's/Olympic programs cut since 2023 |
| M-S48 | Knight Commission / Syracuse Newhouse | Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database: FBS page (data in raw/) | accessed 2026-09-29 (FY2025 data) | see money track | FY2025 FBS public aggregate revenue $13.08B, expenses $13.03B; donor contributions $2.75B; media/conference $3.55B; institutional support $1.89B; student fees $740M; facilities/debt $2.82B; coaches $2.48B; conference totals |
| M-S50 | Sportico (Daniel Libit) | Texas Sets New College Sports Spending Mark With $376M Spree | 2026-01-22 | see money track | Texas FY25 expenses $375.9M, revenue $352.5M, debt $192.2M; $94M facility debt/rent; $53M coaching; $50.3M staff; $3.24M House payments; outspent A&M by $148M |
| M-S51 | Ohio State News | Ohio State athletics sets record with $336M in FY25 revenue | 2026-01 | see money track | FY25 revenue $336,077,887; tickets $81.65M; donations record $68.28M; media $64.9M; expenses $320.4M |
| M-S52 | Sports Illustrated | The Power 4 Conferences Reveal Revenue Figures for 2025 | 2026-05-22 | see money track | FY2025 revenue: Big Ten $1.47B, SEC $1.11B, ACC $826.5M, Big 12 $610.9M; per-school distributions |
| M-S53 | CBS Sports | SEC generates record $1.03 billion in revenue distribution for 2024-25 fiscal year | 2026-02-05 | see money track | SEC distributed $1.03B; $72.4M avg full share; OU $2.6M, Texas $12.1M |
| M-S54 | CBS Sports (Shehan Jeyarajah) | College Football Playoff finalizes new TV rights contract through 2031 season | 2024-03-19 | see money track | CFP-ESPN from 2026 ~$1.3B/yr; SEC/B1G 29% (~$22M/school), ACC 17%, Big 12 ~15%, G5 9%, independents 1% (ND ~$12M) |
| M-S65 | KBTX | Texas A&M athletics made $22.7 million in net revenue during fiscal year 2024 | 2025-01-31 | see money track | A&M FY24 donations $88.6M; $27.2M Fisher/staff severance in FY24; only football profitable |
| M-S74 | The White House | Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports | 2025-07-24 | see money track | EO bans third-party pay-for-play; claims some schools spend >$50M/yr on rosters; one team $35-40M in 2025; 30+ state NIL laws |
| SP1 | Business of College Sports | Current College Sports Television Contracts | updated 2024-03-19 | secondary | Big 12 $2.28B 2025-26..2030-31 ESPN/Fox; Big Ten $8.05B/7 yrs Fox/CBS/NBC thru 2029-30; SEC ESPN thru 2033-34 ($300M/yr Tier-1 from 2024; SBJ $7.1B/$710M/yr); ACC ESPN $4.8B/20 yrs thru 2036, CW sublicense; CFP $5.64B/12 yrs then $7.8B/6 yrs; Big Ten title game rotation Fox/CBS/NBC; Peacock exclusives |
| SP2 | NBC Sports Pressbox (primary) | Notre Dame and NBC Sports continue historic football partnership ... through the 2029 season | 2023-11-18 | primary | ND-NBC through 2029 season; global rights to all ND home games; Peacock exclusive game; >$100M undergraduate aid generated since 1991; terms not disclosed |
| SP3 | Front Office Sports | Notre Dame and NBC Extend Media Rights Agreement To 2029 | 2023-11-18 | secondary | Sources: ND payout ~doubles; previously low-$20M range per tax returns; implies ~$50M/yr; ~$11M from ACC media for other sports |
| SP11 | Front Office Sports (disclosure: RedBird IMI is FOS primary investor) | Big 12 Presidents Approve Deal With RedBird Capital | 2026-04-29 | secondary | 5-yr partnership; $12.5M capital to conference; up to $30M per school (repaid from withheld distributions); $1.25M annual retainer; no equity/revenue stake; Weatherford investor; Moelis brokered; RedBird will not partner with other power conferences |
| SP12 | Front Office Sports | Majority of Big 12 Schools Are Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Option | 2026-05-07 | secondary | Declining: Texas Tech, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, Arizona, West Virginia, UCF, Cincinnati; holding off: Baylor, Houston, Oklahoma State, BYU, TCU; Kansas undecided; $500M total if all 16 took it; Learfield controlling stake sold to TPG ~$2B |
| SP13 | CBS Sports (Brandon Marcello) | Inside Big 12's bet on private equity to close revenue gap, compete in NIL | 2026-05-12 | secondary | Collegiate Athletic Solutions; credit line double-digit interest; RedBird signed 2 sponsors ~$100M incl. PayPal (on-field logos, cobranded cards, Venmo NIL payments); >=11 schools declined; CVC 2024 talks $800M-$1B for 15-20% equity stalled; Big 12 schools avg opex $131.7M and avg operating loss ~$57.4M (2025) |
| SP14 | AP | Big 12 strikes a private capital deal ... (AP) | 2026 (spring) | secondary | Utah first school PE deal (Otro); Big Ten-UC Investments fell apart over Michigan/USC; SEC working with Goldman Sachs to explore partnerships despite pushback from presidents |
| SP15 | Front Office Sports | UC Investments Says Big Ten Deal Is Off Until Schools Can Agree | 2025-11-17 | secondary | $2.4B for 10% of Big Ten Enterprises; grant of rights to 2046; Michigan and USC opposed; UC Investments pauses for due diligence |
| SP16 | Front Office Sports | UC Investments Head: Do a Little Prayer for Our Big Ten Deal | 2025-11-20 | secondary | UCI CIO Jagdeep Singh Bachher: "no deal on the table"; values Big Ten Enterprises at $24B, >12% return |
| SP17 | AP (Larry Lage) via iNFOnews | Big Ten denies Michigan regent's claim of coercion over $2.4 billion investment plan | 2025-11-18 | secondary | Regent chair Mark Bernstein says Petitti tried to "strong-arm" Michigan; Big Ten denies; working group chaired by Santa Ono; Maryland Pres. Darryll Pines chairs Big Ten council of presidents |
| SP18 | TPG (primary) | TPG to Acquire Learfield | 2026-04-14 | primary | Definitive agreement; Charlesbank stays minority; other investors exit; close expected Q3 2026; terms not disclosed |
| SP21 | Yahoo Sports | Sources: University of Utah nearing landmark private equity deal expected to generate $500 million | 2025-12-09 | secondary | Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC; Otro large minority share, % of annual revenue; >$500M capital incl. nine-figure Otro infusion + donor stakes; exit in 5-7 yrs; Otro paid $200M for 24% of Alpine F1 |
| SP22 | Sports Business Journal (citing Salt Lake Tribune) | Univ. of Utah finalizes private equity partnership with Otro Capital | 2026-06-12 | secondary | Finalized; up to $500M; Crimson Brand Partners (CEO Matt Webb); Utah majority via Growth Capital Partners Foundation; Otro minority; AD Mark Harlan board chair |
| SP24 | Sports Business Journal | Playfly lands Texas A&M multimedia rights in 15-year pact | 2025-02-28 | secondary | 15-yr Playfly deal from July 2026; fan site cites $515M fully guaranteed, $34M/yr vs $18M/yr under Learfield; Playfly stable incl. Penn State, Virginia Tech, Nebraska |
| SP25 | KBTX | Texas A&M athletics inks $515 million multimedia rights deal with Playfly Sports | 2025-02-28 | secondary | $515M / 15 years |
| SP27 | Sports Business Journal | Ohio State, Learfield agree to what could be the most lucrative MMR deal in the country | 2026-01-06 | secondary | 3-yr extension through 2036, revenue-share model; no guarantee figure disclosed; Bjork: biggest gross revenue partner in the country |
| SP36 | On3 | Penn State, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Tennessee officially switch apparel brands | 2026-07-01 | secondary | Penn State-adidas ~$300M/10 yrs (cash, product, NIL); Tennessee-adidas 10 yrs, terms undisclosed; South Carolina-Nike 10 yrs: $70M + $5M cash + $2.5M supplemental product + 15% of net sales (prior UA 2016 extension $71.5M); Georgia Tech-UA 10 yrs, ~6x prior AAV |
| SP37 | EssentiallySports (citing AJC Chad Bishop) | Multiple Power 4 programs make major apparel brand change | 2026-07-01 | secondary | Georgia Tech-UA 10 yrs $186M, avg $18.6M/yr vs adidas $3.11M |
| SP41 | Yahoo Sports | Sources: Notre Dame, Under Armour agree to massive apparel extension | 2023-08-04 | secondary | 10-yr extension, >$10M/yr cash+gear; 2014 UA deal ~ $90M |
| SP58 | Eleven Warriors | How Ohio State's 15-year, $252 million contract with Nike measures up to Michigan, Texas | 2016-01 | secondary | OSU 15 yrs $252M; Texas 15 yrs $250M ($20M upfront, $6.5M cash/yr); Michigan 11 yrs $122.32M (+4-yr option -> $169M), $12M upfront |
| SP63 | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / WholeHogSports | Sources: Arkansas football stadium naming rights deal with CommunityAmerica worth $70 million | 2026-06-25 | secondary | $70M; CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium from 2027 season; described as most lucrative of its kind |
| SP87 | Sports Business Journal (iSpot.tv data) | Allstate leads college football ad spenders with nearly $15 million (SBJ Unpacks) | 2021-12-02 | secondary | 2021 regular season national TV CFB ad spend $508.3M (2019 $737.8M; 2020 $326.6M); top 25 brands with $; AT&T top 2019 at $20.5M; insurance/auto/QSR = 1/3 |
| SP89 | MediaPost (Wayne Friedman; EDO Ad EnGage data) | College Football Viewing, Ad Sales Also Growing | 2025-11-21 | secondary | Sept 1-Nov 18, 2025 national TV CFB ad revenue top 7 networks $859.9M (+3% from $836.0M): Fox $215.4M, ABC $192M, CBS $153.13M, ESPN $148.4M, NBC $74.3M, FS1 $25.4M, ESPN2 $5.12M |
| SP102 | Michigan State University (primary) | Greg and Dawn Williams make historic $401 million commitment to MSU and Spartan Athletics | 2025-12-05 | primary | $401M total; $290M for Spartan Athletics (FOR SPARTA capital initiative) |
| SP106 | LSU via Louisiana First News (primary document) | Lane Kiffin LSU term sheet | 2025-11-29 | primary | "Financial obligations herein are not general obligations of either the University or the State of Louisiana and are payable from self-generated funds of LSU Athletics and affiliated foundation funds"; CFP make-good ($150K-$1M) and home-sale payment (<= $500K) from affiliated foundation funds |
| SP107 | NCAA (primary) | Report of the NCAA Board of Governors, Aug 7, 2025 | 2025-08-07 | primary | Jim Phillips (ACC commissioner) elected BOG chair through Aug 2027; prior chair Linda Livingstone |
| SP108 | Sportico (Daniel Libit) | NCAA FY25 tax return details latest legal, settlement expenses | 2026 | secondary | Charlie Baker paid $3.39M in CY2024 ($3M base); Stan Wilcox $1.54M |
| SP109 | College Football Playoff (primary) | CFP Governance | accessed 2026-10-01 | primary | Board of Managers (11 presidents/chancellors; chair Mark Keenum, Mississippi State) sets policy and budgets; Management Committee (10 commissioners + ND AD) runs operations; Rich Clark executive director; Byron Hatch COO |
| SP110 | Sportico | We asked the College Sports Commission for CEO Bryan Seeley's comp | 2025 | secondary | CSC will not share employee compensation; oversees NIL deals >$600 |
| SP111 | CBS Sports | College sports power conferences hire MLB exec (Bryan Seeley) as CSC CEO | 2025-06 | secondary | Seeley named CSC CEO after House approval |
| SP112 | Sportico | SEC's total revenue dips while school payouts jump in FY24 | 2025 | secondary | Sankey $4.22M FY24 (up from $3.55M FY23); SEC lobbying $81,039 -> $1.29M |
| SP113 | Sportico | Big Ten tax return reveals ex-commish Warren's media rights bonus | 2025-05-06 | secondary | Petitti $2.6M incl. $500K bonus; Kevin Warren $5.75M reward for "$7 billion" media deal; Jim Delany deferred comp |
| SP114 | Cape Cod Times / USA TODAY | SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 show revenue drop in 2024 fiscal year (USA TODAY Network) | 2025-05-16 | secondary | Phillips ~ $4.1M; Yormark ~ $4.4M ($2.5M base, $1.25M bonus); ACC distributions $43.1-46.4M, ND $20.7M |
| SP115 | Congress.gov (primary) | H.R.4312 - SCORE Act (119th Congress) | 2025-2026 | primary | Sponsor Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL); cosponsors incl. Brett Guthrie, Janelle Bynum, Tim Walberg, Jim Jordan, Shomari Figures, Lisa McClain, Scott Fitzgerald, Russell Fry |
| SP116 | The American Presidency Project (UCSB) | Remarks during roundtable discussion on saving college sports (Mar 6, 2026) | 2026-03-06 | primary | White House roundtable convened by Trump on college sports |
| SP117 | Sportico | Brett Yormark banked over $4M in first full year | 2025 | secondary | Yormark >$4.3M FY23 ($2.53M base, $1.25M bonus); compares Sankey $4.27M over similar period (CONFLICT vs SEC FY23 $3.55M - different reporting periods) |