The Big 12 reported almost $268M in total revenue for its FY '15, a "record sum for the league but one that trails at least one Power Five conference peer," according to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. The Big 12's revenue represents a $40M "increase (more than 17%) over the conference's revenue" for FY '14. The $268M in total revenue is "nearly 70% greater than the revenue the conference reported having" during FY '12. Conference income was "boosted most" by the nearly $32M increase it reported in revenue from bowl games. That is a nearly 75% jump, "likely due largely to its share of money" from the first year of the CFP. The Big 12's TV revenue rose by about $8M, or nearly 6%. Despite the strong year, the Big 12's "total revenue and per-school revenue lagged far behind" that of the 14-team SEC, which has reported more than $527M in total revenue for its FY '15. Meanwhile, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby's basic compensation "remained unchanged" at $1.8M during the '14 calendar year, according to the conference's new federal tax return. Bowlsby was credited with just under $2.6M in "total compensation for the year on the new return, including a $450,000 bonus -- identical to the one he received" in '13 (USA TODAY 2/17).
