College Sports Valuation Trends - Top 75 athletic programs' total valuation increased by 13% to $512 billion from 2024 [1] - University of Texas at Austin tops the list with a valuation of almost $15 billion [1] - TV deals are a primary driver of college sports program valuations, particularly for Big 10 and SEC conferences [2][3] NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Impact - NIL deals are changing the college sports landscape, with some athletes potentially earning more than they would professionally [4] - Universities can now directly pay student-athletes, with a soft cap of approximately $205 million this year [9] - NIL opportunities can significantly boost a university's value if capital is strategically deployed to student-athletes [10] Revenue and Financial Factors - Revenue streams include media rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships [8] - Donor money can significantly impact a program's revenue, as seen with the University of Texas [4]