Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Texas Longhorns

Texas posts largest operating budget ever reported for 2023-24

Bryce Lazenby

By Bryce Lazenby

Published:

Texas enjoyed a successful first season in the SEC in 2024.

The Longhorns appeared in the College Football Playoff and made it all the way to the semifinal round. In this era of college football, winning requires a significant financial investment, and the Longhorns are proof.

Front Office Sports revealed on Wednesday that the Texas athletic department had operating expenses of a whopping $325 million. The school also brought in $331.9 million in revenue, becoming the first D1 public school ever to report both expenses and revenues of over $300 million in a single year.

Ohio State had the 2nd-highest operating expense total at $292.3 million. That number and Texas’ number are the largest operating expense totals ever reported in college athletics.

These numbers are from last season, which was Texas’ last in the Big 12. After moving to the SEC, it’s probably realistic to expect these numbers to only get larger every season. It’s also not surprising to see Texas and Ohio State atop the list, as these are 2 of the largest fanbases and most successful football teams in recent seasons.

Perhaps owing to Texas’ recent success and a move to the SEC, the school reported $133.9 million in contributions. This was a nearly $48 million increase from fiscal year 2023. The rise in contributions was attributed to “a general increase in pledge donations due to increased fundraising efforts, aided by the success of the football team” which went 12-2 during the 2023 season, won the Big 12 championship, and played in a College Football Playoff semifinal. 

While the Longhorns were still able to turn a profit even with massive expenses, the Buckeyes were not so lucky. The Buckeyes reportedly operated at around a $37 million deficit.

Bryce Lazenby

Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.

You might also like...

2025 RANKINGS

presented by rankings

Read our Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, Cookie Policy and

© 2025 Saturday Down South. All rights reserved

We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. We support responsible gambling. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). global.footer.legal