SPORTS GROUCH

Whose college football team is more valuable – the Gamecocks or the Tigers?

If you are an average college football fan, you would say national champion Tigers.

But not so fast.

A not-so-average college football fan, Indiana University-Purdue University finance professor Ryan Brewer, says the Gamecocks are the more valuable team.

He calculates each year what a college team would be worth if it was bought and sold like a pro team. Brewer analyzes college team’s revenues and expenses with cash-flow adjustments, risk assessments and growth projections.

WHO’S MOST VALUABLE?

Brewer ranks the Gamecocks 17th with a value of $460.8 million. Clemson did not make the top 25.

The last year he ranked Clemson in the top 25 was 2017 when he ranked the Tigers at 24th with a value of $328.4 million.

In contrast, Forbes Magazine focuses on annual revenue and ranked USC higher at 15th on its 2018 list with an estimated $90 million in revenue.

The Tigers didn’t make Forbes top 25 either. Brewer and USA Today ranked the University of Texas 1st with $214.8 million in revenue. USA Today had USC 16th at $136 million and Clemson 26th at $112.6 million.

TEXAS TOPS OHIO STATE

Brewer believes Texas is worth $1.1 billion, moving them into the top slot. Ohio State was 1st for 3 years, but dropped from a $1.5 billion value last year to $1 billion after a season in which head coach Urban Meyer was suspended and decided to retire.

Where did Brewer rank the Alabama Crimson Tide? At 3rd with $1 billion.

That’s more than 3 times the value of Clemson which trounced Alabama 44-16 in the championship game.

He valued Clemson at a measly $298 million. Why is this important? Brewer said the Football Bowl Subdivision revenue was $5.6 billion, up 6.4% from a year ago, and cash flow of $2 billion, up 2.7%. This is important because winning teams attract undergraduates and their money. They also attract millions in season ticket sales, TV broadcast rights and advertisers and sponsors.

USC is in the top ranked Southeastern Conference, assuring it lots of TV dollars and exposure compared to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Would Clemson consider moving to the SEC? Probably not - although the SEC would probably love to have them. They get banged up enough in the ACC.

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