What will the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes receive in 2025 as Cotton Bowl prize money?

The Cotton Bowl, a prestigious college football bowl game held annually in Arlington, Texas, is one of the most notable postseason events in the sport. Traditionally featuring top teams from the Big 12 and SEC or other prominent conferences, the Cotton Bowl offers not only national recognition and the excitement of postseason play but also substantial financial incentives for the participating teams. In 2025, both the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes are expected to be strong contenders, with both programs holding national relevance and high rankings. As such, the prize money offered to the teams participating in the Cotton Bowl will play a significant role in their postseason planning and financial outlook.

Understanding the Cotton Bowl prize money involves examining various factors: the bowl’s historical payout structure, how it impacts both schools, and how the prize money fits within the broader financial picture of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system, sponsorships, and other postseason revenues. Both the Longhorns and the Buckeyes are expected to walk away with significant financial rewards, but the amount of money they receive will depend on a few key elements.

The Cotton Bowl’s Financial Structure

The Cotton Bowl is one of the New Year’s Six bowl games, a select group of six high-profile postseason games that are part of the larger College Football Playoff system. While not part of the playoff itself, the Cotton Bowl remains an attractive bowl game for teams ranked just outside the playoff or those with impressive seasons in major conferences. The prize money awarded in such games is based on several components, including television contracts, sponsorship deals, and ticket sales. The payout is often determined by the bowl’s revenue and the conference affiliations of the teams participating.

Historical Prize Money for the Cotton Bowl

In recent years, the Cotton Bowl’s prize money has fluctuated but generally provides a substantial amount of compensation to participating teams. As one of the top-tier bowl games in the country, it typically provides payouts in the range of $4 million to $6 million per team, although this amount can vary depending on several factors such as sponsorship changes, TV ratings, and ticket sales.

For example, in 2024, the Cotton Bowl offered a payout of approximately $6 million per team, a figure that reflects its status as a high-profile bowl game. This payout structure is consistent with what the Cotton Bowl has offered in recent years, though specific amounts can change based on the unique circumstances surrounding each season.

In addition to the base payout, there may be other financial opportunities tied to the Cotton Bowl. These include conference revenue shares (as the teams belong to the Big 12 and Big Ten, respectively), sponsorships, and other incentives, which could further increase the amount each team receives.

2025 Cotton Bowl: Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

When the Texas Longhorns face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Cotton Bowl, the prize money could be one of the most lucrative for both teams in recent years. Let’s break down what each team can expect to receive in terms of direct prize payouts, conference revenue shares, and other potential financial rewards.

1. Base Payout for the Cotton Bowl

As a New Year’s Six Bowl, the 2025 Cotton Bowl is set to offer substantial payouts. If we consider the $6 million figure from 2024 as a baseline, it is reasonable to estimate that the Cotton Bowl will offer a similar payout for both Texas and Ohio State. The exact amount could fluctuate slightly based on factors like TV ratings, ticket sales, and potential sponsorship changes, but a rough estimate for each team’s base payout is around $6 million.

This prize money serves as the primary financial incentive for both teams and reflects the prestige and prominence of the bowl game within the College Football Playoff system. The $6 million payout would go directly to each school’s athletic department, which can use the money for a variety of purposes, including team expenses, scholarships, and further investments into their respective football programs.

2. Conference Revenue Shares

In addition to the base payout, both Texas and Ohio State are part of major conferences that benefit from revenue sharing agreements. Under the terms of the College Football Playoff and bowl system, conferences with teams participating in top-tier bowls like the Cotton Bowl are entitled to receive a portion of the bowl’s revenue.

For the Big Ten (Ohio State) and the Big 12 (Texas), the conferences receive a portion of the prize money based on the bowl payout structure and conference agreements. In the case of the Cotton Bowl, each conference typically receives around $2 million to $3 million of the total revenue generated from the game. This money is distributed among conference members, benefiting all of the schools that belong to those conferences.

For the Big 12 and Big Ten, the payouts are split among the member schools, often funding initiatives related to athletic scholarships, football-related expenses, and other athletic programs. However, a significant portion of the conference revenue also supports the bowl system’s operational expenses, such as marketing, travel logistics, and administrative costs associated with organizing the event.

For Texas, this means that while their athletic department would receive the direct payout for the Cotton Bowl, a portion of that would ultimately go to the Big 12 for redistribution. Similarly, Ohio State’s payout would benefit the Big Ten as a whole, contributing to the collective revenue pool for the conference’s member institutions.

3. Sponsorship Deals and Other Revenue Sources

In addition to the direct prize money and conference revenue shares, both Texas and Ohio State will benefit from additional sponsorship deals and TV contracts tied to the Cotton Bowl. The game is one of the premier events on the college football postseason calendar, attracting significant sponsorship interest from companies eager to associate their brands with the bowl game.

Sponsors for the Cotton Bowl typically include major national brands, ranging from financial institutions to consumer goods companies. These sponsors contribute a substantial amount of funding to the game, which helps bolster the overall prize money available for participating teams.

For Texas and Ohio State, these sponsorship deals can lead to additional financial incentives that go beyond the base payout. Depending on the terms of their participation agreements, both teams may be entitled to a share of the sponsorship revenue generated by the event. While it is difficult to estimate the exact amount each team would receive from these deals, it is reasonable to expect that the total sponsorship income could add another $1 million to $2 million per team, potentially bringing the overall financial rewards for each school closer to $7 million to $8 million.

4. Ticket Sales and Fan Impact

Another important factor contributing to the overall prize money for the teams is ticket sales and the associated fan attendance. The Cotton Bowl, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is played in one of the most iconic and largest stadiums in the world, with a seating capacity of over 80,000. The revenue generated from ticket sales is substantial, and a large portion of this income is directed toward the participating teams.

For Texas and Ohio State, this could mean additional financial rewards from ticket sales. Both schools bring large fanbases, especially for a high-profile bowl game like the Cotton Bowl. Historically, both teams attract strong attendance and bring in significant revenue through ticket sales, fan engagement, and merchandise purchases.

While ticket revenue is typically shared among the bowl game organizers, participating teams also receive a portion based on their fan attendance and contributions to ticket sales. Texas’ and Ohio State’s loyal and passionate fanbases mean that both teams will likely see substantial revenue from these ticket sales, further increasing their overall financial haul from the Cotton Bowl.

Other Financial Benefits for Texas and Ohio State

Beyond the direct prize money, the financial rewards associated with participating in the Cotton Bowl extend beyond just the immediate payout. For Texas and Ohio State, playing in one of the country’s most prestigious bowls comes with several long-term financial benefits, including increased recruiting visibility, brand exposure, and overall prestige.

By competing in the Cotton Bowl, both teams not only enhance their own financial standing but also raise their profiles on the national stage, helping to attract future recruits and garner additional sponsorship opportunities.

Furthermore, Texas and Ohio State will benefit from the broader exposure associated with playing in a high-profile postseason game. This exposure translates into additional revenue opportunities through national TV broadcasts, merchandise sales, and even the boosting of overall program visibility, which has a lasting impact on future recruitment and financial stability.