SEC announces over $800M in revenue for 2023-2024, increasing $50M over year before



The Southeastern Conference commissioner announced revenue distributions of $808.4 million on Thursday, which will be divided among the conference's 16 universities.

The 2023-24 fiscal year, which ended August 31, 2024, saw massive revenues according to conference commissioner Greg Sankey, which was helped along by several of its college football teams raking in more money from bowl games.

The revenue totaled $790.7 million from what was described as "the conference office" and an additional $17.7 million from the universities that participated in the bowl games in 2023-2024.

Schools averaged $52.5 million in distributed revenues, while the bowl participants retained their additional earnings.

"The SEC’s annual distribution of revenue helps member universities maintain strong athletics programs while supporting the academic and athletic ambitions of thousands of student-athletes across the conference," Sankey said, according to a press release.

Of the 16 universities in the conference, 14 received a full revenue share from television contracts, bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC Championship Game, the SEC men's basketball tournament, and the NCAA Championships.

Oklahoma and the University of Texas were the two schools that received just $27.5 million due to joining the conference in July 2024.

Texas, however, was one of the schools that brought in money for the SEC from the CFB. Along with Georgia and Tennessee, Texas helped the conference collect $26 million from the inaugural tournament.

'SEC universities are uniquely positioned to provide new financial benefits for student-athletes.'

While these distributions are indeed massive, Notre Dame's independent status meant the school took in $20 million without having to share it, after making the national championship game.

Nevertheless, the SEC was able to make everyone happy with a more than $50 million increase over its 2022-2023 fiscal year where revenues totaled $741 million.

The conference commissioner also boasted about the SEC's ability to provide financial benefits for its athletes, before bragging about "debt-free education" and health care coverage.

"As the entire college athletics enterprise works through significant change, SEC universities are uniquely positioned to provide new financial benefits for student-athletes while continuing to deliver transformative, life-changing college experiences," Sankey said.

He added, "Beyond providing an exceptional, debt-free education, this experience includes world-class support in coaching, training, academic counseling, medical care, mental health support, nutrition, life-skills development, and post-eligibility health care coverage for SEC student-athletes."

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'Truly dark times': C-SPAN inauguration coverage interrupted with complaints about College Football Playoff



A caller is going viral for his hilarious interruption of political discussions on C-SPAN during President Trump's inauguration.

As cameras panned the Capitol just before 11:00 a.m. on Monday morning, Trump's administration and Cabinet members were all smiles as they waited for the president to arrive.

At this point, a C-SPAN host took a call purportedly from "Graham in Jersey City, New Jersey," who claimed to be a Democrat.

'I'm a bit more disappointed in the selection committee.'

"Hi. I want to wish everyone a happy MLK Day. I hope everyone's staying warm," the caller politely began.

The male continued, "Bit disappointed how the election turned out. I think it would have been great to see a female president inaugurated today."

The caller then revealed his true intentions for calling, which were to complain about college football.

"While I'm disappointed in the American people and their desire to see another four years of Trump, I'm a bit more disappointed in the selection committee for not picking Alabama for the College Football Playoff finals. Instead, picking inferior teams like SMU and Indiana," the caller explained.

"Truly dark times in America," the caller concluded, somehow without laughing.

The host quickly blew by the comments and declined to acknowledge anything the caller said:

"That's OK. Graham there. We got pictures of the president's hopeful Cabinet."

Alabama was ranked No. 11 in the nation but was passed over in favor of Clemson, which was ranked No. 16.

Arizona State, which was ranked No. 12, actually got a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff and was remarkably placed as the fourth-seed but lost their first game to Texas.

Viewers were not convinced about caller Graham's origin story either, with one X user saying it was "quite clear he was not from New Jersey and even more clear [he's] not a democrat."

😂 it’s quite clear he was not from New Jersey and even more clear not a democrat.
— 𝕱𝖆𝖎𝖓 🤬 (@Faino) January 20, 2025

Another viewer joked the caller was talking about the "wrong SEC," purposely confusing the Southeastern Conference in college football (where Alabama plays) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Wrong SEC, sir."
— Sean - Go Steelers Go Pens Go Gators (@seanhbytes) January 20, 2025

Alabama fans seemingly got their revenge as both lower-ranked teams, Clemson and Arizona State, lost to Texas in the playoffs.

However, Texas lost to Ohio State University in the Cotton Bowl, with Ohio State going on to beat Notre Dame 34-23 in the National Championship after the inauguration.

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Here Are The NCAA Bowl Games You Should Keep Your Eye On

Check out all the college football games worth watching while you’re home for the holidays.

'We are crushed for him': LSU star tears ACL while celebrating teammate's big play



While overly disruptive celebration can often lead to a penalty flag during a college football game, the excessive celebration displayed by one Louisiana State star cost him more than just fifteen yards.

On the opening defensive series of his team's loss to the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday evening, LSU sophomore defensive tackle Maason Smith jumped up to celebrate a stop made by defensive back Major Burns. Unfortunately, Smith then landed the jump awkwardly on his left leg.

\u201cLSU DT Maason Smith appeared to have suffered an injury after celebrating this play.\u201d
— ESPN (@ESPN) 1662337009

Smith, who was named a Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC in 2021, was immediately taken out of the game. Further testing confirmed that he tore his left ACL in the fall and is now out for the remainder of the season.

"Obviously, we're crushed for him because he was celebrating for a teammate on the play and trying to show his support," LSU head coach Brian Kelly said after the game. "So anytime you suffer an injury under those circumstances, it's extremely disappointing. He's a great player... but it's next man up now for us."

In this case, the next man up will be Mekhi Wingo, a sophomore transfer from the University of Missouri. Wingo, who was also named Freshman All-SEC last year, replaced Smith during the game on Monday and recovered a key fumble late in the fourth quarter that seemed to put LSU, then trailing 24-17, in position to take the lead or send the game into overtime. Though the Tigers did ultimately score a touchdown on the last second in regulation, the team missed the point after try and lost a heartbreaker, 24-23.

"Mekhi is amazing," Kelly continued. "He's been a great leader. He won this week's SWAT points again, and he played very well in the game."

"It's hard to compare anybody to Maason Smith, his size, his athleticism," Kelly added, "but Mekhi Wingo is going to be Mekhi Wingo and what he does is extremely effective as a football player who gets now a bigger share of that work. It'll be incumbent upon others to step up as well."

Sunday night was Kelly's debut as the head football coach of LSU. For the previous decade, Kelly had been the head coach of Notre Dame, and he led the Fighting Irish to two College Football Playoff appearances and one BCS National Championship Game.

LSU went undefeated and won a national championship in 2019 under former head coach Ed Orgeron, but then had two disappointing seasons. The Tigers finished 6-7 last year, and Orgeron was let go midway through the season, though he continued to coach the team. Kelly was announced to be his replacement on November 30.