Big Ten earns over $40 million from inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff

The Big Ten Conference will receive over $40 million due to its performance in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. This marks a significant financial gain for the conference compared to previous playoff formats. The new playoff structure allows for more teams, increasing revenue opportunities for participating conferences. This change contrasts with the previous four-team playoff system, which limited financial benefits. The financial success highlights the growing impact of college football playoffs on conference earnings. The Big Ten's substantial payout reflects its strong presence in the expanded playoff format.