SEC pays out $40.9 million to schools as part of revenue distribution

Published 5:29 pm Thursday, February 1, 2018

The Southeastern Conference doled out $40.9 million to each of its 14 member institutions as part of the revenue distribution for the 2016-17 fiscal year, the league announced Thursday.

In all, the SEC brought in a whopping $596.9 million in revenue — an increase from the $584.2 million the league earned the previous year. The payout for each school increased from $40.4 million for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The total includes $573.8 million from the league office and $23.1 million retained by schools that participated in 2016-17 bowl games. The total distribution amount includes funds generated from TV contracts, bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC football championship, the SEC men’s basketball tournament, NCAA championships and a supplemental surplus distribution.

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“This distribution from the SEC is instrumental to our universities’ athletics programs ability to provide the highest possible level of support for the thousands of student-athletes who participate annually in nearly two dozen conference sports,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “This commitment to excellence encompasses superior support in coaching, equipment, training, academic counseling, medical care and life-skills development for our student-athletes.”

Ole Miss’ athletic department brought in $117.8 million last year with a profit of $8.9 million. The football program hasn’t played in a bowl game since the 2015 season.