• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Million-Dollar Bonuses to $2 Hot Dogs: The Big Money of Ohio State’s Title

Ohio State has a $20 million roster and a $285 million athletic department, and its title win earned millions more.

Ryan Day
The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State captured its first football national title in a decade Monday night, beating Notre Dame 34–23 in Atlanta. 

The game concluded the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. The Dec. 20 start meant first-round games on college campuses and games occasionally bumping up against NFL territory.

The victory came with plenty of financial rewards. Here are the numbers to know from Monday’s result: 

$1 million: Total bonuses earned by Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day for winning the national title. Day earned $500,000 for Monday night’s win alone, but combined with his other postseason incentives, hits seven figures to add to his $10 million salary 

$700,000: Total bonuses earned by Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly for the team’s performance this year. The CFP win netted him another $100,000 under a contract that gives up a 5% bonus for a title win; Kelly’s base salary is $2 million. Day’s 10 assistant coaches each qualified for six-figure bonuses 

$770,000: OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’s total bonus earnings, a slightly higher amount than Kelly’s due to his $2.2 million base salary 

$46 million: Total payout to the Big Ten, of which OSU is a member

$2.6 million: Amount paid out to each of the Big Ten’s 17 members for OSU winning the national title. The Buckeyes got the same amount as their peers (Notre Dame gets to keep the $20 million it made to itself because it’s not in a conference)

$20 million: Approximate cost of Ohio State’s entire roster in NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals 

$285–300 million: Ohio State’s annual athletics budget, which it says is the largest in the country

$4 million: ESPN color analyst Kirk Herbstreit’s annual salary with the network. Herbstreit, a former OSU quarterback, called the game for ESPN. Herbstreit’s broadcast partner, Chris Fowler, reportedly makes $3 million annually 

$1–$1.1 million: Cost of a 30-second advertisement on ESPN during the national championship game, according to Navigate Research 

$1.3 billion: Price ESPN pays annually to broadcast the entire 12-team College Football Playoff

$2,500: Average price per ticket sold for the title game, according to StubHub. The price range was from $1,740 to $6,287 

$50,000: Bonus Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork received for the Buckeyes making the title game. Bjork’s annual salary is $2 million annually 

$200: Lowest rate for a hotel room in the Atlanta area for Monday night 

$500: Price of a one-way ticket for a Southwest Airlines flight from Columbus to Atlanta on Monday

$2: Cost of a hot dog at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is known for its fan-friendly prices

$900 million: Price Mercedes-Benz paid for the naming rights to the stadium in 2015, two years before it opened 

This story has been updated.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) dribbles the ball against New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) during game one of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center.
PRESENTED BY ISOS CAPITAL

A’ja Wilson’s Star Continues to Rise With Release of Nike Shoe

Shoe deals have picked up alongside growing popularity of the WNBA.
Feb 3, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Super Bowl LIX signage at the Hyatt Hotel.

New Orleans Home Rentals Skyrocket Around Super Bowl

Short-term rental revenue has already reached $10.5 million.
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

Charles Barkley Will Deny NBC, Amazon Offers to Stick With Turner

Barkley has repeatedly flip-flopped in his career plans in recent years.

Fox Reports Big Sports Profits, Eyes New Streaming Service

Football and baseball helped power surges in company revenue and net income.

Featured Today

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.
January 28, 2025

It’s Starting to Pay to Be Good at Cornhole

American Cornhole League players made $7.7 million in 2024.
Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton watches his team from the sideline. The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Virginia Tech Hokies for a menÕs basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

FSU’s Leonard Hamilton to Step Down As NIL Lawsuit Unfolds

Six former FSU men’s basketball players sued Hamilton in December.
Western Oregon women's basketball players allege abuse.
January 30, 2025

Western Oregon Women’s Basketball Players File $28 Million Lawsuit Claiming Coach Abuse

Players say school officials ignored their complaints of physical abuse and bullying.
Oct 26, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (3) celebrates following a tackle during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium.
January 31, 2025

Another Lawsuit Seeks to Challenge the NCAA’s Eligibility Clock

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia recently sued the NCAA over similar eligibility standards.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Colorado linebacker LaVonta Bentley (20) during gets set at his position during the 1st quarter between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Colorado Buffaloes at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
January 30, 2025

House v. NCAA Objections Highlight Three Major Concerns

It’s not all smooth sailing into college sports’ revenue-sharing era.
January 29, 2025

Shedeur Sanders Sits Out Shrine Bowl Practices, Sparking Speculation

The top NFL Draft prospect is at the Shrine Bowl, but not playing.
The United States Capitol during the certification of votes by Congress making Donald Trump president on Jan. 6, 2025.
January 29, 2025

Why College Football Coaches Are Investing in Federal Lobbying

One issue coaches have been vocal about: the transfer portal.
January 29, 2025

Winning Comes at a Price: Texas and Ohio State Report Record Expenses

The Longhorns reported $325 million in operating expenses last fiscal year.