Texas still sits at the top of college football’s financial mountain.
Heading into the 2026 season, The New York Times has again pegged the Longhorns as the sport’s most valuable program, with an estimated worth of $2.46 billion. That figure, the Times notes, is comparable to the value of MLB’s New York Mets. Texas’ place at No. 1 is fueled by its SEC membership, strong football revenues and the overall rise of the program under Steve Sarkisian, even as SEC voices warn the Longhorns could be headed for a second straight disappointing season.
Ohio State checks in right behind Texas at No. 2 overall with a valuation of $2.3 billion, while Notre Dame lands at No. 3 at $2.1 billion. The Irish once stood apart because of their TV contract, but the gap has narrowed as the SEC and Big Ten have grown even richer.
The Big Ten and SEC dominate the list in a big way. The SEC places 10 teams in the top 25, including nine of the top 17 overall. Arkansas is a good example of how the rankings are about financial muscle, not just preseason buzz: the Razorbacks were picked to finish last in the conference in the recent preseason media poll, yet they still come in 23rd nationally at $690 million.
The Big Ten has 11 of the top 25 programs, and that group includes Michigan State at No. 24, even though the Spartans are far from the championship conversation for 2026. Indiana, the defending champion, also made a major leap, with its valuation nearly doubling from last year to about $696 million, which puts the Hoosiers at No. 22 among FBS programs.
The ACC’s presence is limited but noticeable. Miami comes in at 18th, Florida State at 20th and Clemson at 25th. Outside of Notre Dame, those are the only non-SEC, non-Big Ten teams in the top 25.
The rest of the picture is even starker. Every program valued at $1 billion or more belongs to Notre Dame, the SEC or the Big Ten. The Big 12 had no teams in the top 25 and only one in the top 30, with Utah at No. 26 and a valuation of $638 million.
After an offseason filled with frustration, the financial gap between college football’s two power conferences and everyone else is still impossible to miss. Even before the games are played, the numbers tell the story.
In Other News...
Utah Fans Have A Must-Watch Preview Of The Programs Future
With Utah football camp set to open next Monday and the season opener against Idaho looming on Sept. 3, the Utes attention is starting to split between the present and what comes next. A big part of that future is already on display in the states high school ranks, where nine in-state commits from Utahs 2027 recruiting class will be in action this fall and give fans an early look at the kind of talent that could shape the program down the road.
Some of the best viewing will come in games where future Utes are on opposite sidelines, turning ordinary Friday nights into a preview of what Utah is building. Jonah Mailei, the states top-rated running back prospect, is among the names to track after a junior season that put him firmly on the radar, while Sept. 18 stands out as a date tied to one of the seasons biggest high school matchups. For Utah fans, it is a rare chance to watch the next wave before it ever reaches campus. [Read more 🡒]
Utah May Finally Have Its Best Shot To Break Through
Utahs path into the College Football Playoff is starting to look less like a long shot and more like a real conversation, even if the margin for error is still tiny. Under Morgan Scalley, the Utes are positioned to benefit from a schedule that gives them a chance to build momentum early, with Big 12 play opening against Iowa State, Kansas and Colorado before the calendar gets much less forgiving.
The Arkansas game stands out as the kind of nonconference test that could matter when the committee starts comparing rsums, and the back half of the schedule brings the stretch that will decide whether Utah stays on track. Houston, BYU, Arizona, Cincinnati, TCU and West Virginia all sit in the path, and the cleanest route is still the hardest one - win the Big 12, or keep stacking victories and hope the rest of the field creates enough chaos to leave the door open. [Read more 🡒]