SEC Distributes $627.1 Million of Total Revenue to Schools
BIRMINGHAM - Greg Sankey announced Friday that approximately $627.1 million of total revenue was divided among the 14 institutions of the Southeastern Conference for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which ended August 31, 2018.
The total includes $604.1 million distributed from the conference office, as well as $23.0 million retained by institutions that participated in 2017-18 football bowl games to offset travel and other related bowl expenses.
The average amount distributed from the conference office, excluding bowl money retained by participants, was slightly over $43.1 million per school.
“This distribution of revenue to the SEC’s member institutions represents a continued conference-wide commitment to support of our student-athletes in all areas of their college experience,” said Sankey. “This revenue is essential in providing outstanding support for all of the young people on our campuses through coaching, equipment, training, academic counseling, medical care and life-skills development.”
Currently more than 5,400 female and male student-athletes across the SEC receive financial aid and, counting non-scholarship participants, more than 7,800 total student-athletes participate in sports sponsored by SEC institutions.
The 2017-18 academic year was the third in which SEC schools funded costs associated with providing scholarships based on a student-athlete’s full cost of attendance. In addition, each SEC university utilizes a portion of the revenues to fund a wide range of academic and campus improvement initiatives, including academic scholarships, endowed faculty positions, student wellness programs, research programs, and forward-looking building projects.
“The revenues generated through SEC athletics programs benefit not only the athletics and academic pursuits of student-athletes but are also instrumental in advancing the academic missions of the Conference’s 14 universities,” Sankey said. “These distributions are designed to provide each university with the flexibility to invest in unique and significant ways that create positive impacts across their respective campuses. Past uses of funds on our campuses have included the direct transfer of funds, assistance with construction and renovation of academic facilities and support of academic scholarship opportunities and academic programs.”
The total distribution amount is comprised of revenue generated from television agreements, post-season bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC Football Championship, the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, NCAA Championships and a supplemental surplus distribution.
The distribution amount does not include approximately $8.1 million of NCAA and SEC grants divided among the 14 member institutions.
The total revenue for 2017-18 is an increase above the $596.9 million distributed in 2016-17 and the per school distribution represents an increase over the average school distribution of $40.9 million in 2016-17, not including bowl money retained by participants.