In 2015, the ten schools that made the most money in college sports averaged $151.7 million in athletics revenue, $138.1 million more than the average those schools spent on scholarships, $13.6 million, according to data collected by USA Today.
While there has always been a gap between what the top schools made and what they were giving to the athletes in terms of scholarships, that gap today is growing at an absurd rate. Just ten years ago, the gap between the two figures for these ten schools was just $63.2 million.
Nobody is forcing the schools to make this much money. But if they are going to take the money, they should find a way to share a little more with those who are doing most of the work.
Cork Gaines/Business Insider
Values in the chart represent the average athletic department revenue and scholarship expenses reported by the ten schools that made the most money. Those schools in 2015 are Texas, Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, Louisiana State, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Penn State.