The Wall Street Journal Online published a story on Jan. 7 that ranked the top teams in college football based on worth. Taking into account revenues, expenses and growth projection the University of Texas topped the list for the second year in a row. What may surprise some fans is where South Florida finished on that list.
According to the analysis conducted by Ryan Brewer, an associate professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus, USF football is worth $101.2 million. That number puts the Bulls 53rd in the nation in terms of the worth of major-conference programs. The Bulls find themselves just behind Boston College ($110.2), Kansas ($103.4), and Connecticut ($101.8).
Perhaps more interesting than the programs ahead of USF are the programs behind them. The football program is only 16 years old, and the Bulls have only been playing Division 1-Bowl Subdivision football for 12 years. Despite being so new, USF finds itself ahead of conference rivals Rutgers and Syracuse, which leaves for the Atlantic Coast Conference after this academic year.
Both of those programs have longer histories in the sport. Rutgers beat the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University, in the first college football game ever in 1869.
Despite being worth more than former Big East counterparts such as Syracuse ($91.4), Rutgers ($64.1) and Pittsburgh ($59.6), USF has been one of the last programs mentioned in the discussion of conference realignment. Each of those teams has found a new home in a more stable conference.
So, why not bring USF to the ACC, Big Ten or The Big 12 Conference?
College football is a lucrative business, not just for the schools but for networks. When it comes to the discussion of realignment, USF has a key qualifier for an invitation to a better conference: an untapped market.
The ACC is the most likely option for USF as it is quickly becoming the Big East 2.0. But the ACC already has a foothold in Florida with Florida State and Miami. If the ACC did want to gain the 14th-largest TV market by acquiring the Bulls, FSU and Miami would be quick to block that move.
The Big Ten or The Big 12 Conference could benefit from breaking into Florida, but those leagues would be more likely to poach teams from the ACC. Recent rumors suggest The Big 12 is interested in Florida State.
Samantha Ouimette is the sports editor of The Crow’s Nest. She can be reached at sports@crowsneststpete.com.
Photo by Thomas Boyd.
