Ever wonder how much money the University of Tennessee’s athletic program is worth? CNBC answered that question in its valuation of the top 75 departments across the country for 2025.
The company listed Tennessee at $1.12 billion in 2025, the seventh-highest mark in the country. It is also good for the fourth-best in the SEC. The only programs ahead of UT, in order of the top school down, are Texas, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Clocking in just behind Tennessee are USC, Alabama, Nebraska, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida and then Kentucky to round out the top 15. Other SEC schools are South Carolina at No. 21, Auburn at No. 22, Arkansas at No. 24, Ole Miss at No. 30, Missouri at No. 31, Vanderbilt at No. 35 and Mississippi State at No. 38.
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CNBC noted that the numbers exclude military academies and are limited to schools that participate in the NCAA’s FBS for football. The figures were obtained from the Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis and the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database for fiscal year 2024. It also consulted AthleticDirectorU.
The list ‘reflects the current enterprise value of each program, starting with a base revenue multiple of four for all institutions, and then adjusting the multiple for variables, including conference affiliation, estimated NIL spend, school subsidies, number of alumni and other factors that can catalyze revenue growth and profitability.’
It also noted that Tennessee was at a 19% YOY value change, earned $234 million in revenue in 2024 and had a 16% YOY revenue change. Its move to No. 7 is a two-spot jump from coming in at No. 9 a year ago, as well.
