Mississippi State men’s basketball ranked near the bottom of the SEC in both revenue and expenses during fiscal year 2025, according to each SEC school’s NCAA Financial Report.
MSU spent $12.2 million on its men’s basketball program in FY 25, the fourth-lowest mark of the conference’s public institutions. In return, State generated the SEC’s second lowest revenue mark, $11.8 million, besting just Oklahoma, and nearly $2 million less than the next lowest mark.
Coaching pay was the highest expense for the program in FY 25. Chris Jans and company cost MSU athletics $5.76 million, 47% of its total operating expense for the fiscal year. The Bulldogs went 21-13 and were a first round exit in the NCAA tournament in 2024-25, the season which falls under FY 25.
Team travel was the only other expense to surpass $1 million, as the department spent $1.4 million on men’s basketball travel. Travel and coaches pay were two of the 20 expenses reported, but took up 59% of MSU’s total operating expenses.
Athletic student aid, game guarantees and administrative and support staff pay were the other expenses more than $500,000. MSU’s operating expenses were close to $4 million less than the conference average of $16.18 million.
MSU made a majority of its money from media rights. State, along with nine of its SEC counterparts, generated $6.85 million in media rights. MSU’s media rights revenue was 58% of its total operating revenue.
Alabama ($11.7 million), Auburn ($8.4 million), Ole Miss (7.83 million) and Georgia ($7.56 million) made more in media rights. The conference newcomers Oklahoma ($1.8 million) and Texas ($0) made the least in media rights, according to the report.
State generated $2.38 million in total NCAA distributions, which included $2.3 million from NCAA revenue and grant distribution, and $69,345 in “Post-Season Non-Football NCAA Expense Reimbursements.”
Ticket sales earned MSU $1.85 million. State’s total generated revenue was close to $9 million less than the conference average of $20.1 million.
Kentucky’s SEC-high mark was driven by more than $24 million in ticket sales. Tennessee’s $35 million mark was fueled by $13.7 million in contributions, defined by the report as:
“Input contributions provided and used by athletics in the reporting year including:
• Amounts received from individuals, corporations, associations, foundations, clubs or other organizations designated for the operations of the athletics Program.
• Funds contributed by outside contributors for the payment of debt service, lease payments or rental fee expenses for athletic facilities in the reporting Year.
• Amounts received above face value for tickets.”
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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