The Michigan athletic department remains one of college sports’ heavyweights.
That’s apparent from the 2014-15 finances of NCAA Division I public-university athletic programs, according to data compiled and released Sunday by USA TODAY Sports.
U-M sits third nationally with a $151-million athletic department budget, trailing Texas ($173 million) and Ohio State ($154 million). No school is close to the big three, with Alabama next at $132 million.
The biggest edge for the top-three schools is in ticket sales. Texas and Ohio State both made $63 million that school year from spectator admissions (primarily football).