Longhorn Riches
University of Texas Longhorns earn No. 1 ranking in one area at least
The Longhorns can claim at least one No. 1 title this year. According to a recent report from Forbes, the University of Texas still houses the richest college football team, valued at $131 million — that's 7 percent more than No. 2 Notre Dame, which has a valuation of $122 million.
Although you may be experiencing sticker shock, that 2014 figure is actually $8 million less than 2013, when the Longhorns had an estimated value of $139 million. Before fans start cursing the new coaching strategies, the decrease in value has less to do with the team's performance than it does with the acquisition of Charlie Strong.
According to Forbes, UT paid $4.4 million to buy Strong out of his previous contract with the University of Louisville. On top of that, the university must also pay severance to Mack Brown's previous coaching staff.
Team values are determined by how much revenue they generate for their universities overall, as well as how much they financially contribute to local economies during home games. Longhorn ticket sales raked in about $34 million, while $31 million came from "football-related contributions" (usually meaning wealthy donors).
Rounding out the top five are the University of Michigan, University of Alabama and Louisiana State University. The University of Oklahoma ranks No. 8 at $93 million, while Texas A&M lands at No. 13 with a valuation of $78 million.