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Ohio Football
Topic:  money

Topic:  money
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Mike Johnson
General User



Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,753

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  Message Not Read  money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 1:12:31 PM 
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

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OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,339

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 1:36:11 PM 
Mike: I've seen a different figure for our overall endowment recently. It was approaching $1 billion. I don't think the branch campuses add much. Can't explain the discrepancy.


The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

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Mike Johnson
General User



Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,753

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 1:43:57 PM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
Mike: I've seen a different figure for our overall endowment recently. It was approaching $1 billion. I don't think the branch campuses add much. Can't explain the discrepancy.


It would be nice if your $1 billion is correct. I can only say that the list I found was labled most recently reported totals.


http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

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BuddyLee
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 686

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 2:20:10 PM 
Has there ever been any credible information about what OU or MAC football players in general are being paid by their schools (I believe up to $20 million budget is allowed now) or outside NIL collective funds? I have a pretty good idea about what many of these P4 school kids (OSU etc) are getting in the portal, through insider message boards and informed reporters.

It seems difficult for us to know what is needed to be competitive if there is no transparency about what money is available and being spent. Anyone have any informed speculation of the total cost of our roster and how we might compare in the overall MAC hierarchy?

Last Edited: 1/18/2026 2:20:54 PM by BuddyLee

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Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,322

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  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 4:11:34 PM 
https://give.ohio.edu/advancement/endowment
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Mike Coleman
Administrator



Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Near the Pristine Sandy Shores of Lake Erie, OH
Post Count: 1,958

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 9:09:25 PM 
Alan Swank wrote:
https://give.ohio.edu/advancement/endowment


Am I reading this right: $1.2 Billion for university endowment and another $800 million for OU Foundation as of June 2024?
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BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,707

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/18/2026 10:47:07 PM 
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.
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Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,322

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/19/2026 9:02:03 AM 
Mike Coleman wrote:
Alan Swank wrote:
https://give.ohio.edu/advancement/endowment


Am I reading this right: $1.2 Billion for university endowment and another $800 million for OU Foundation as of June 2024?


In this report, the endowment was $800 million.
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Mike Johnson
General User



Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,753

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/19/2026 9:30:40 AM 
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.


Billy, re your reference to my "logic." I don't see that I was offering logic. Rather relating some facts and speculating that OU's endowment won't be used to support athletics. As to any laws regarding endowments, I'm not sure there are such laws. Because of my involvement with several non-profits, I know that their endowments are used for a range of purposes. Which leads me to think that different entities can use endowment funds for a variety of purposes and, with board approval, change or expand those purposes.


http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

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Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,322

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/19/2026 10:13:26 AM 
Mike Johnson wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.


Billy, re your reference to my "logic." I don't see that I was offering logic. Rather relating some facts and speculating that OU's endowment won't be used to support athletics. As to any laws regarding endowments, I'm not sure there are such laws. Because of my involvement with several non-profits, I know that their endowments are used for a range of purposes. Which leads me to think that different entities can use endowment funds for a variety of purposes and, with board approval, change or expand those purposes.


Many if not most endowment dollars are for specific purposes such as the Green and White Club fund for scholarships for volunteers in the athletics department. They have very specific guidelines as to what they can be used for. I'd be surprised if there are any that are general funds for athletics with no strings attached. Collectives have evolved outside the purview of universities to funnel money directly to athletes.

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BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,707

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/19/2026 12:51:09 PM 
Mike Johnson wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.


Billy, re your reference to my "logic." I don't see that I was offering logic. Rather relating some facts and speculating that OU's endowment won't be used to support athletics. As to any laws regarding endowments, I'm not sure there are such laws. Because of my involvement with several non-profits, I know that their endowments are used for a range of purposes. Which leads me to think that different entities can use endowment funds for a variety of purposes and, with board approval, change or expand those purposes.


Mike, sorry that I misunderstood your point. As Al stated though the vast majority of the endowment is earmarked for uses from the donors, they are generally restricted from being used for "operating" funds or to cover an immediate cash shortfall.
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Bobcat Jerry
General User

Member Since: 5/3/2017
Post Count: 296

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/20/2026 9:19:22 AM 
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


Where do I mail my check ?
And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.


Billy, re your reference to my "logic." I don't see that I was offering logic. Rather relating some facts and speculating that OU's endowment won't be used to support athletics. As to any laws regarding endowments, I'm not sure there are such laws. Because of my involvement with several non-profits, I know that their endowments are used for a range of purposes. Which leads me to think that different entities can use endowment funds for a variety of purposes and, with board approval, change or expand those purposes.


Mike, sorry that I misunderstood your point. As Al stated though the vast majority of the endowment is earmarked for uses from the donors, they are generally restricted from being used for "operating" funds or to cover an immediate cash shortfall.


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GoCats105
General User

Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 7,672

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: money
   Posted: 1/20/2026 3:28:48 PM 
Alan Swank wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
BillyTheCat wrote:
Mike Johnson wrote:
It might well be true that, among MAC schools and in particular those in Ohio, OU has less money to pay its football and basketball players or potential recruits.

That said, it took less than a minute to find the size of endowment funds for all Ohio universities, state assisted and private.

Overall, Ohio's endowment fund ranks 7th among all the state's universities and colleges. Here is how it stacks up among MAC schools in Ohio.

* Ohio - $579,349,840 (main campus only)
* Miami - $554,869,000
* Toledo -$297,373,929
* Akron - $223,554,119
* BG - $174,231,527
* Kent - $145,874,869

Clearly endowment money isn't likely to be used to pay players. Perhaps other Ohio schools have donors giving big money to pay players but who are skimping on donating to endowment funds.


And what do you think endowments are to be used for? What are the laws on them? By your logic here Harvard and Yale would be athletics power houses.


Billy, re your reference to my "logic." I don't see that I was offering logic. Rather relating some facts and speculating that OU's endowment won't be used to support athletics. As to any laws regarding endowments, I'm not sure there are such laws. Because of my involvement with several non-profits, I know that their endowments are used for a range of purposes. Which leads me to think that different entities can use endowment funds for a variety of purposes and, with board approval, change or expand those purposes.


Many if not most endowment dollars are for specific purposes such as the Green and White Club fund for scholarships for volunteers in the athletics department. They have very specific guidelines as to what they can be used for. I'd be surprised if there are any that are general funds for athletics with no strings attached. Collectives have evolved outside the purview of universities to funnel money directly to athletes.



Per the 2024 financial report, here is what the endowment spent (donated? gifted? whatever the term) on athletics.

Total: $1,080,905
Salaries & Benefits: $201,457
Supplies & Services: $202,455
Occupancy, Maintenance & Repairs: $592,708
Travel & Entertainment: $84,285

These figures are down from 2023, where the total was $1,554,293. The biggest expense that went down was Occupancy, Maintenance & Repairs.

Last Edited: 1/20/2026 3:29:24 PM by GoCats105

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