Money isn’t everything to succeed in college football. In the brief two-year history of the College Football Playoff, Clemson has spent the fewest athletic dollars to reach the playoff.
Clemson generates considerably less money and spends far less than Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma. But it’s the Tigers who are the undefeated No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Clemson’s athletic department spent $73.5 million in 2013-14, while the other three CFP schools all exceeded $107 million for athletic expenses. Interestingly though, Clemson was No. 2 among the CFP teams in two key financial categories: salaries for football assistant coaches and support staff. In those measurements, the Tigers are closer to Alabama than they are to Michigan State and Oklahoma.
How do the four CFP teams make and spend their money? CBS Sports analyzed each school’s 2013-14 NCAA financial reports and other documents for answers. NCAA financial reports from 2014-15 are not available yet so most of the numbers listed below are on a two-year lag. Unless otherwise noted, all of the figures are from 2013-14 numbers the schools reported to the NCAA.
| Finances of College Football Playoff Teams | ||||
| Category |  Clemson |
 Alabama |
 Michigan State |
 Oklahoma |
| Total Operating Athletic Revenue | $74.79 million | $153.23 million | $104.68 million | $129.23 million |
| Total Athletic Revenue (2005-14)^ | $596.10 million | $1.12 billion | $832.88 million | $918.26 million |
| Sports/Scholarship Athletes | 19 sports / 378 athletes | 21 sports / 462 athletes | 25 sports / 510 athletes | 21 sports / 403 athletes |
| Annual Debt for Athletic Facilities (% of university debt used for athletics) |
$2.31 million (13%) | $14.70 million (25%) | $6.00 million (7%) | $9.88 million (5%) |
| Approximate Cost of Attendance Stipend to Players* | $3,906 | $5,386 | $2,916 | $4,605 |
| Football Ticket Sales | $17.95 million | $34.92 million | $17.67 million | $33.43 million |
| Donations to Athletic Department | $19.26 million | $32.20 million | $29.72 million | $33.36 million |
| Direct Institutional Support | $4.38 million | $6.00 million | $388,823 | $0 |
| Student Fee Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| NCAA/Conference Payouts | $20.43 million | $23.28 million | $31.26 million | $25.95 million |
| Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet Rights | $2.69 million | $13.66 million | $1.23 million | $5.23 million |
| Royalties, Licensing, Advertising and Sponsorships | $4.78 million | $15.47 million | $7.50 million | $12.80 million |
| Football Camp Revenue | $0 | $730,580 | $234,558 | $0 |
| Nike 2015-16 Contract Value~ | $2.52 million | $3.67 million | $2.80 million | $3.34 million |
| Total Operating Athletic Expenses | $73.46 million | $120.18 million | $107.42 million | $113.37 million |
| Total Athletic Expenses (2005-14)^ | $586.59 million | $958.00 million | $818.54 million | $848.94 million |
| Football Scholarship Costs/Players on Athletic Aid | $4.11 million / 94 players | $3.83 million / 121 players | $3.50 million / 90 players | $3.36 million / 85 players |
| Football Coach Pay in 2015-16^ | Dabo Swinney $3.31 million |
Nick Saban $7.09 million |
Mark Dantonio $3.67 million |
Bob Stoops $5.40 million |
| Maximum CFP Bonuses For Football Coach^ | $875,000 | $310,000 | $250,000 | $625,000 |
| Football Assistant Coaches Pay | $5.53 million | $6.57 million | $4.04 million | $4.75 million |
| Football Support Staff Pay | $2.48 million | $2.66 million | $1.44 million | $1.09 million |
| Football Recruiting Expenses (% of overall recruiting expenses) | $694,135 (47%) | $1.28 million (58%) | $647,875 (45%) | $880,541 (44%) |
| Athletic Department Medical Expenses/Insurance | $633,310 | $2.47 million | $1.43 million | $1.32 million |
| Medical Expenses/Insurance Per Scholarship Athlete | $1,675 | $5,355 | $2,805 | $3,276 |
| Athletic Department Money Transferred to University | $1.26 million | $9.12 million | $475,000 | $3.18 million |
| * via CBS Sports ^ via USA Today ~ via Portland Business Journal |
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