Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State Athletics reels in record-breaking revenue from 2022 fiscal year
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
Ohio State Athletics reels in record-breaking revenue from 2022 fiscal year
The Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY released a story Thursday night detailing that Ohio State Athletics reported $251.6 million in revenue from the 2022 fiscal year, which spanned from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. That’s more than two times the $106.9 million the athletic department pulled in during the last fiscal year, which, of course, was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and stadium attendance restrictions across the Big Ten.
NOTE: The below figures are also from the Dispatch and USA TODAY report.
The athletic department’s 2022 mark of approximately a quarter billion dollars is an Ohio State Athletics record for annual revenue. The previous high was $233.9 million from the 2020 fiscal year.
Even though the Buckeyes didn’t make the College Football Playoff in the 2021 season, their 11-2 campaign, boosted by seven home games, went a long way for ticket sales. In fact, the football program produced $47.7 million in ticket revenue that season, which ended with a thrilling Rose Bowl victory. Ohio State men’s basketball, also handicapped by attendance restrictions during the 2021 fiscal year, brought in $5.2 million in ticket sales from the 2021-22 season.
A significant rise in donations to the athletic department, plus Ohio State’s share of the Big Ten’s TV deal with ESPN and FOX contributed to the record revenue haul, as reported by the Dispatch and USA TODAY.
Lettermen Lounge Podcast: Buckeyes options for quarterback, running back and wide receiver in 2024 cycle
With the 2023 recruiting cycle all but in the rear view mirror, attention shifts to the 2024 class for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, general manager Mark Pantoni and the rest of the Buckeyes staff.
Ohio State has three commits in its 2024 class so far: Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, offensive lineman Ian Moore and linebacker Garrett Stover. On3 currently ranks the group third nationally.
It’s a Buckeyes class that has the potential to include upward of 24 prospects.
In the latest episode of the Lettermen Lounge, Lettermen Row recruiting analyst Matt Parker and team reporter Spencer Holbrook lay out the possibilities for Ohio State at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Check it out:
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Buckeyes as part of ‘first four out’ in latest NCAA Tournament projection
Well, it’s happened. Ohio State is officially on the outside looking into the NCAA Tournament in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projection.
Lunardi has the Buckeyes in his “first four out” category and ranked No. 71 overall. Ohio State has lost six of its last seven games after starting the season 10-3 and 2-0 in Big Ten competition. As of now, Lunardi has nine Big Ten teams in the field and three on the bubble.
The other Big Ten teams on the bubble are Penn State and Michigan. Lunardi has Penn State in his “next four out” at No. 73 overall and Michigan in his “considered” section at No. 84 overall.
Ohio State hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament during head coach Chris Holtmann’s now-six-year tenure. The Buckeyes have been highly-rated across advanced analytics databases this season but are 2-8 in games decided by single digits, and one those wins — the Big Ten opener against Rutgers — shouldn’t have actually counted.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 218 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 302 days
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