The Big 12 Conference is projected to bring in $710M in gross revenue in FY2026, giving the league “another record year in revenue but still likely keeping it in a distant fourth place behind the other Power Four leagues‚” according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. The projection is up from the $610.9M reported by the Big 12 in its recently filed tax returns for FY2025, which ended in June 2025. Revenue is “expected to escalate” for those leagues in 2026, likely keeping the Big 12 “far behind them for the foreseeable future, or at least until after its TV deal with ESPN and Fox expires in 2031.” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said, “We’re doing everything we can.” He added, “There’s not as much variable revenue as you’d like, but we’re taking as much advantage of the variable pieces of the business as we can. Our commercial business is thriving. Were very aggressive there, and we’re just looking to innovate, find new ways to better resource our institutions.” Yormark on Friday declined to say “what the net distributions are estimated to be” from that $710M in gross revenue for 2026. But they still “will be quite a ways back” from the $70M-$90M shares given to members of the SEC and Big Ten in FY25 (USA TODAY, 5/29).
EXPANSION DEBATE: Yormark said that the Big 12 “favors a 24-team playoff field ‘directionally.’” In San Jose, Jon Wilner wrote beyond that level of support, “more information on both the economics and unintended consequences of expansion is needed.” It seems Yormark has “staked out a position” between Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti’s “all-in view of 24” and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s “ongoing skepticism.” Whether the playoff stays at 12 or expands to 16 or 24, the Big 12 “should explore every last option to improve its postseason positioning” (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 5/29).
