In fiscal 2015, the first year of the College Football Playoff system, the SEC raked in a stunning $527.4 million.
The huge revenue pull for the conference represents a sharp 60% increase over fiscal year earnings ending Aug. 31, 2014. To give greater perspective on the impressive success of the SEC, the revenues amount to more more than half of the $906 million reported by the entire NCAA.
A hefty chunk of that went to the former conference’s commissioner, Mike Slive. USA Today reported that the 75-year-old Alabama attorney in 2014 earned $3,655,576 in total compensation. That equates to a hefty 75% raise over his prior years earnings and a 300% increase over 2012.
Until being eclipsed by Slive, Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott previously sat at the top of money earners in 2013. Slive retired as commissioner in July 2015.
Fourteen SEC member schools shared in the explosive revenue increase. They divided $455.8 million— breaking down to $31.2 million per school.
After everyone got their piece of the action, a $17.2 million surplus still remained. This exceeds by almost $10 million the previous greatest annual surplus record set in 2008.
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