Overview
- Ohio State’s Ted Carter told USA TODAY that changing the Big Ten’s near-equal distribution could be considered, saying the topic “will be a conversation that will be had over time.”
- Carter pointed to the Buckeyes’ season opener drawing about 16.6 million viewers with an 18.6 million peak as evidence of the program’s outsized media value.
- He said Ohio State athletics generated roughly $325 million in revenue in 2024–25 and ran a surplus, while warning escalating NIL expenses could threaten long-term self-sufficiency.
- The Big Ten distributed about $63.2 million per long-standing member in fiscal 2024, with Oregon and Washington on phased shares, as other leagues like the ACC have moved to weighted models tied to viewership.
- No conference policy change or ultimatum has been issued, and analysts note other Big Ten schools would likely resist unequal payouts while Ohio State has limited leverage to force a new model.