Report: OSU No. 2 for sports revenue

Ohio State University’s athletics programs generated the second-highest revenue total of any college in the nation during the 2007-08 school year, according to a report released Monday in Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal.

The sister publication to Columbus Business First, citing Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act forms, found that Buckeye sports brought in $118 million in the school year ended June 2008, second only to the University of Texas at $120.3 million. Ohio State was one of only three college athletics programs during the school year to top the $100 million mark, the University of Florida coming in at third with $106 million.

In breaking down revenue by sport, SportsBusiness Journal ranked Ohio State among the top five earners nationwide for its football program. Buckeye football, according to the report, generated $65.2 million during the ‘07-’08 school year to come in at No. 4. Leading the list was Texas at $73 million, followed by the University of Georgia ($67.1 million) and Florida ($66.1 million).

The following is a full listing of the top 10 revenue-generating college sports programs in the U.S.:

1. Texas – $120.3 million

2. OSU – $118 million

3. Florida – $106 million

4. University of Michigan – $99 million

5. University of Wisconsin – $93.5 million

6. Pennsylvania State University – $91.6 million

7. Auburn University – $89.3 million

8. University of Alabama - $88.9 million

9. University of Tennessee – $88.7 million

10. Oklahoma State University – $88.6 million