How Oklahoma Sooners football did financially in FY2024
NORMAN, Okla. (BVM) 鈥� The University of Oklahoma athletic department has released its annual financial report for fiscal year 2024.聽
The 82-page document, which was submitted to the NCAA by Jan. 15, was obtained by 海角社区 through an open records request. It highlights the Oklahoma Sooners football program’s revenue, expense and profit figures. Note that FY2024 covers the reporting period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.聽聽
Revenue: For the first time in history, Oklahoma athletics has joined the $200 million revenue club; the department generated $208.8 million in total operating revenue for FY2024.聽
Football accounted for 63% of the university鈥檚 athletic revenue, generating $131.7 million in FY2024 (down $11.5 million from the previous year).聽
Ticket sales: Football accounted for 87% of the university鈥檚 total ticket revenue, totalling $41 million.聽
Other game day revenue: Football鈥檚 game days are becoming increasingly more lucrative, with the program reporting a 9% increase in revenue from game programs, novelties, parking and concessions 鈥� bringing the total to $2.6 million.聽
Media rights: Radio, television, internet, digital and e-commerce revenue for football increased by 7.5% year-over-year, reaching $22.9 million.聽聽
Donations: The generosity of donors helps Oklahoma athletics stay competitive. Contributions provided and used by football equalled $42.4 million in FY2024.聽
Expenses: Oklahoma athletics set an all-time expense record in FY2024; operating costs rose by $7.2 million to reach a total of $206.2 million.聽
Football鈥檚 operating expenses totalled $60.5 million (up $2.6 million). Men鈥檚 basketball was the next most expensive sport with total costs reaching $12.2 million.
Meals: Sooners athletics spent $5.3 million on non-travel student-athlete meal allowances and food/snacks in FY2024 鈥� with football eating up $3 million of that total.聽
Team travel: Meals provided to players on the road were reported under 鈥渢eam travel,鈥� but this category also considers lodging, air and ground travel. Football spent the most in this category ($2.7 million), followed by women鈥檚 basketball ($1.4 million).聽
Game expenses: Football upped its spending on game days 鈥� covering officials, security, event staff, etc. 鈥� from $4.2 million to $4.9 million.聽
Recruiting: OU athletics spent $6 million on recruiting across all sports 鈥� with football using $3.9 million of that amount. The spending laid the groundwork for Sooners football to acquire the and the
Salaries: Brent Venables, the college football coach in the nation, earned $7.9 million in salary, benefits and bonuses in FY2024.聽
Profits: Oklahoma athletics reported a $2.6 million surplus in FY2024, which is an extraordinary increase from the $320,346 earned in the previous year.聽
Football鈥檚 profits equalled $71.1 million in FY2024 (down $14 million from the prior year). The only other profitable sport on OU鈥檚 campus was men鈥檚 basketball, which earned $2.3 million.
The university鈥檚 next NCAA financial report (FY2025) is set to be released in January 2026.
