Medica
Medical schools and affiliated hospitals are where the big money comes from
Since Pitt was mentioned in this thread, I'll join in the discussion.
Your comments about Medical Schools, Hospitals and Research Income are spot on. I'll get into that in a bit.
As far as FSU is concerned, since they are not happy in the ACC I would like to see them go after they pay a negotiated exit fee which can be distributed among the schools. In some ways like a marriage, you signed the prenup so how how much change will both parties agree too.
I would like to see them go to the B1G because I think their football fortunes would not be great (aka Nebraska).
Playing a potential diet of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon would not give a great W/L record compared to what they were used to IMO. The B1G will be like the NFL where most teams will beat each other up and no one will be undefeated like in the past.
Money made from sports is actually very small (maybe 5 cents on a dollar) when compared to income that can be made from annual Research Grants (Research Grants to a University can only be used for the Research Project).
Example, B1G sports teams will each get $60 million or more which is great compared to the ACC getting maybe $40 million.
However sports income compared to yearly income from Research Grants is very small. Consider Pitt a University of just 30,000 students. In 2023 Pitt had total annual Research Grants of $1.16 Billion including $658.3 million from NIH funding. Pitt invests as much as possible in facilities which will enhance its research capabilities.
Penn State will be spending $700 million on renovating Beaver Stadium (used 7 times a year). Pitt plays in Acrisure Stadium (used 7 times per year) but will be building a $1.5 Billion 17 story UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland to be opened in 2026 and spending $250 million on a Bioforge Manufacturing facility to be opened in 2025.
Rutgers now having a Medical School and Hospital System is great because they will be able to bring in additional income from getting additional Research Grants.
US News Global Universities Rankings 2023 illustrates how your school compares to other world class research universities (criteria involves Research, Graduate Programs, Published Papers etc).
US News Global University Ranking 2023: (Pitt #45, Penn State #84, Florida State #241 and Alabama #512).
I would have liked Pitt to be a member of the B1G not so much for the Sports Programs but for the Academic prestige (17 AAU members) although I condsider the ACC the 2nd best Academic Conference (9 AAU members).
If a few other teams leave the ACC Conference they will be able to be replaced. The ACC at 18 (maybe 17) members is too large to be consumed.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!