Wisconsin Athletic Program's Ranked Among Nation’s Most Valuable

While Ohio State unsurprisingly topped the rankings at $1.32 billion, Wisconsin’s placement was the sixth highest in the Big Ten, trailing only the Buckeyes, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, and USC.

The Badgers have consistently generated considerable amounts of revenue, driven by the football and men's program's ability to attract strong attendance and national television audiences. That said, the college athletics landscape as a whole is changing quite rapidly.

"While we navigate these changes, it provides us an opportunity to continue to position Wisconsin Athletics for success," Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh said. "Our high standards for student-athletes who represent our university with class and distinction won't change. Our high standards to pursue excellence on and off the field also won't change.

"Student-athlete opportunity will remain at the center of all we do. Our plan is to maintain our broad-based approach to supporting 23 sports, though the level of support we're able to offer each program will need to change. Above all, our overarching goal will continue to be for student-athletes to thrive within our program and earn a degree from our world-class institution.

"The environment in which we have been competing will be quite different in the future. The changes ahead will force us and athletic departments across the country to make difficult decisions, given the financial impact of the settlement. We will adjust to the changing dynamics with our values and goals of academic achievement and a competitive athletic experience as our guide."

The rankings, developed with insights from private equity experts and data from AthleticDirectorU, aimed to quantify the financial standing of schools across the country. Excluded from the analysis are military academies, with a focus solely on FBS programs.

Wisconsin’s spot as a top-15 program solidifies its standing as a cornerstone of the Big Ten and a key player nationally in the shifting economic landscape of college sports.