logo
Oregon Ducks football valued at just under $1 billion, per The Athletic

Oregon Ducks football valued at just under $1 billion, per The Athletic

USA Today4 days ago
A good investment, if you have that type of cash, is a professional sports franchise. Most of them have valuations that just keep going through the atmosphere.
For example, the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA's storied franchises, were sold recently for a robust $10 billion. On the other end of the spectrum, the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that is always on the verge of moving out and is currently playing in a minor league park, is looking to sell for around $1.7 billion.
College football teams are different. They aren't professional franchises, even though many make just as much money as some.
The New York Times attempted to determine the value of each of the Power 4 teams if they were franchises that could be sold to the highest bidder. According to the article, the Oregon Ducks would be valued at around $990 million, just missing the $1 billion mark.
"In prestige and championship potential, the Ducks — the top team on this list that has never won a national title — are probably undervalued here," writer Matt Baker said. "Nike has made them a national brand, and Dan Lanning has re-established them as a title contender. Though Oregon proved it belongs in the Big Ten by winning the conference championship in Year 1, the Ducks get a half-share payout from the league until the 2030 fiscal year. That reality kept them from being the 14th member of our $1 billion club.
At the top of the list of college franchises is the Texas Longhorns, valued at $2.38 billion, followed by the Georgia Bulldogs ($1.92 billion), Ohio State Buckeyes ($1.9 billion), and Notre Dame Fighting Irish ($1.84 billion).
The Ducks generate $90 million in revenue annually, but playing in a traditional small market, with the largest market nearby being Portland, which is not a major market itself, doesn't help their valuation. Although Autzen Stadium is great, it's relatively small compared to other college stadiums. Just an expansion of the stadium to perhaps 70,000 would probably push the Ducks over that $1 billion threshold.
But it really doesn't matter since the Ducks aren't a pro team. Oregon is a very successful college program that is the envy of most and isn't hurting for cash.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian names key player to stop on Ohio State
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian names key player to stop on Ohio State

USA Today

time27 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian names key player to stop on Ohio State

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith burst onto the scene last year, fresh out of high school, to become one of the best players in the country and put together arguably the best season by a freshman wide receiver ever. He won't sneak up on anyone this year and will be known as -- if not the best -- then one of the best players in the country and one of the preseason frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. It's hard to win the Heisman as a receiver, however, and his impact on a game is more than the stats you see at the end of games. Don't get me wrong, he'll surely put up some numbers again, this time in his sophomore season, but he's going to garner a lot of attention in multiple layers of the field that should open things up for others like receivers Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis, and tight end Max Klare. But Smith will also have the attention of the opposing coaching staffs. Just ask Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, who got to see him up front and in person during last year's College Football Playoff semifinal Cotton Bowl. He took some time to talk to Colin Cowherd and was quick to praise the generational talent that Smith is, even comparing him to a former NFL All-Pro star. 'You know, it's interesting. I had a chance to coach Julio Jones for two years in Atlanta," Sarkisian told Cowherd. "Reminds me a lot of him. So big and physical but yet fast. I mean cover ground, so strong at the point of attack when the ball's in the air. You see just the ability to make contested catches. "That's where your attention needs to be. But, hey, they've got really good coaches. He's going to be moving around. He's not going to be lining up in one position all the time. Ideally, you've got multiple people with eyes on him and guarding him, but you still have to play great team defense, and you've got to have ability to stop the run and you've got to cover the other two wideouts they have that are two really good players, too. I do think there's a multitude of things that you can do well, but you better know where No. 4 is at all times." The Longhorns did indeed know where Smith was last year and had a very good game plan to take him pretty much out of the game. He only had one catch for three yards against Texas, but again, that opened up opportunities for other players. Carnell Tate had seven catches for 87 yards and Will Howard still threw for 289 yards. You can bank on Smith putting up bigger numbers than that on August 30. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Kaleb Johnson wows Steelers fans, media early into NFL career
Kaleb Johnson wows Steelers fans, media early into NFL career

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Kaleb Johnson wows Steelers fans, media early into NFL career

Kaleb Johnson will be the first RB in a long time to get a second contract w/ the #Steelers. He's going to be a good one. Kaleb Johnson was a star last season for the Iowa football team. After a good freshman season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson saw his playing time dip as a sophomore, receiving only 117 carries in 2023 compared to 151 in 2022. He entered his junior season with a lot to prove, especially after a suspension kept him out of the first half of the season opener. What happened next was something no one expected. Johnson exploded in 2024, getting 240 carries and rushing for 1,537 yards and a school record 21 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He was named an All-American for his efforts and was generally regarded as the second-best running back in the entire nation behind Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. That season catapulted him into NFL Draft discussions, and he was eventually taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2025 draft. And it seems Johnson is already impressing his new team, media, and fans. The Steelers opened training camp on Thursday, where everyone got to see their first real glimpse of Johnson in the NFL, playing alongside Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf. And social media was absolutely buzzing about his performance on the opening day of training camp. Social media reacts to Kaleb Johnson at Steelers' training camp Huge run from rookie Kaleb Johnson #steelers #nfl I'm hesitant to call anything a big run given there's no pads, but one thing I'll say is Kaleb Johnson absolutely flies when he gets into open build up speed. I can't tell yinz how GOOD it feels having a RB that can hit the hole with a quick burst and Johnson. Kaleb Johnson's acceleration gets a 'woah' from the crowd as he bursts through the line for a long touchdown run. #Steelers It seems like Johnson is showing Steelers' fans what Hawkeye fans have known for a while: he's a big play threat with elite burst and acceleration. While he's still listed as the primary backup to Jaylen Warren, Johnson should see a lot of playing time in 2025 and will have a chance to battle for that starting spot very soon. Iowa fans will have a chance to see Johnson play as a Steeler for the first time on August 9, when Pittsburgh opens preseason play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney

Urban Meyer and Mack Brown predict the winner of Ohio State vs. Texas in Week 1
Urban Meyer and Mack Brown predict the winner of Ohio State vs. Texas in Week 1

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Urban Meyer and Mack Brown predict the winner of Ohio State vs. Texas in Week 1

We're a little over a month from the college football season kicking off, and this year it opens with a bang, especially if you are an Ohio State fan, because the Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns in Week 1. It's a game everyone has been pointing to in the offseason, and for good reason. There's a great chance that it'll be a top-three matchup and a rematch of the classic College Football Playoff semifinal from last season. It's a little too early for us to dissect this thing and provide a prediction, but that has stopped others from weighing in on the game, especially as the season draws nigh. The latest to pontificate on how this one will play out are two guys with ties to each school. On a segment from the Triple Option podcast, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and former Texas head coach Mack Brown each provided a prediction for the game. To nobody's surprise, really, each went with their rooting interests and allegiances. For Meyer, it boiled down to one player that will be the best on the field. 'They have Jeremiah Smith, the best player in college football, and I don't think it's really that close,' Meyer said on the podcast. 'You can roll up on him, you can double him, and you can slow him down. But you can't stop him. … But they have other weapons. They've recruited so well at the skill positions there.' For Brown, it had more to do with the experience at quarterback and when the game is going to be played that will swing the balance. 'I didn't like that it's the opening game for either team, especially when one loses in the (College Football Playoff) semifinals and one wins the national championship and loses its quarterback,' Brown said. 'We had Louisiana-Lafayette the week before we went to Columbus and to the Shoe (in 2005), so we had a warmup and won 60-3. So we at least had the routine of getting on the bus and getting all of those new players together and Friday before the game and pregame — you're not gonna have that. You have that young quarterback at Ohio State (Julian Sayin), and this is Arch Manning's really big deal and it's gonna be in front of millions of people. 'I like Texas because they've got Arch back and Ohio State's inexperienced at quarterback. And I like the fact that it's at noon for Texas. I played at 8 o'clock at night (in 2005)." Well then, that doesn't give us much insight into this one really, does it? You'd expect both to lean towards their emotions and look for a reason the team they want to win, to do just that. Not to take away from Meyer and Brown, but we'll continue to look at those in the media that don't have some ties to each program to see how they feel. In fact, ESPN's Heather Dinich has also already weighed in with a prediction. Let the countdown continue ... Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store