Auburn football revenue post-COVID middle of the pack in the SEC

The Auburn football program fortunately had a major bounce-back fiscal year in 2021-22 following the destruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2020-21 athletic/academic calendar.

As reported by AL.com’s Michael Casagrande in a list compiled through public records requests, public filings and media reports, AU ranks sixth in the conference in revenue. The Tigers sit right below Florida and above Tennessee in the middle of the pack.

Here was the list, which featured Alabama and Georgia as the only two teams above $200 million — though it should be noted that three schools were all within striking distance with at least $190 million in revenue — and lacked numbers from South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky:

"“Alabama $214.4 millionGeorgia $203.0LSU $199.3Texas A&M $193.1Florida $190.4Auburn $174.6Tennessee $154.6Arkansas $152.5Missouri $141.2Ole Miss $133.6Miss. State $110.7”"

In terms of non-conference revenues, the difference between Ohio State and Alabama was similar to the schism between Alabama and Auburn football in earnings.

Auburn football could be due for better times ahead

Several of the programs below AU on the revenue rankings had prosperous times during the fiscal year listed and still placed well below the orange and blue. Ole Miss, despite going to a New Year’s Six bowl and being within striking of the SEC West crown — in theory, of course, since the Rebels haven’t knocked off the Crimson Tide since Hugh Freeze was head coach — fell tens of millions of dollars short of Auburn during a down-year.

What could come next is a massive resurgence from Freeze’s Tigers in 2023 and beyond. Under Bryan Harsin, there wasn’t a full fan buy-in by the end of his first season, when AU had fumbled a 6-2 start to end up barely bowl eligible. By year two, enthusiasm was way down across the board and there were plenty of open seats at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Under Freeze, Auburn football should be grossing more revenue, and winning more games — with fan enthusiasm possibly off the charts if his recruiting wins can translate on the field to an improved product.