Economics professor reacts to Tennessees record-breaking athletics profits [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – After a successful football season that saw the Vols reach their first College Football Playoff appearance ever, a baseball national championship and postseason appearances to every other sport, UT Athletics saw record breaking income in 2024.

That growth was buoyed by big-time TV contracts and other vital income.

“We’re seeing continued strong growth primarily driven by an expansion of very very lucrative national media contracts,” said College of The Holy Cross Economics Professor Victor Matheson.

Previous Coverage: Tennessee Athletics reports almost $250M in revenue this year

$38 million came from Tennessee’s side of the SEC’s television contracts, but $46 million came from ticket sales across all sports.

“Well obviously being able to fill a 100,000 seat stadium multiple times a year with ticket buyers willing to pay high ticket prices obviously generates huge amounts of revenue as well,” said Matheson.

Just ten years ago, in 2014, the University of Tennessee reported to the NCAA, as it is …