Overview
- Ross Bjork publicly projected on June 25, 2026 that Ohio State’s athletic department will reach a $500 million annual operating budget within a few years, saying the increase could come in two to five years.
- The department reported $336.1 million in operating revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, a sharp rise from $279.5 million in 2023 according to Ohio State’s NCAA financial report.
- In the second year of the revenue-sharing era the university can allocate $21.3 million to selected teams, up from $18 million last year, increasing discretionary funds for football and basketball.
- Bjork said men’s basketball is financially competitive after this offseason, noting roster moves and retention alongside a reported 2026 roster valuation of about $43.5 million.
- The athletic department is surveying fans about Schottenstein Center upgrades and premium seating options, has discussed facility projects such as Woody Hayes center work, and says no stadium naming-rights deal is currently in the works because the stadium is state-owned.