Even though the team won college football's biggest prize, the Seminoles aren't anywhere close to the top of a recent ranking of the most valuable football programs, according to a report by Ryan Brewer, a professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus, that tracks the value of college football programs.
The Seminoles aren't even ranked ahead of the team they defeated 34-31 in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory in the NCAA's Bowl Championship National Championship. Auburn ranked ninth on the list, valued at $536.7 million. Florida State came in at a surprising 22nd, valued at $277.9 million.
Topping the list is Texas, valued at $875 million, which isn't likely to surprise avid college football fans. The Longhorns parted ways with former coach Mack Brown on Dec. 14 and the vacant Texas post was touted in the media as being the best job in college football. Texas earlier this week hired former Louisville coach Charlie Strong.
But being among the most valuable college football programs isn't necessarily an indicator of on-field success, as FSU proved Monday night. Sure, there are no perennial basement dwellers on the list, but many of the top teams in Brewer's rankings haven't had the success enjoyed Monday by the Seminoles.
Texas finished the 2013 season with a record of eight wins and five losses, finishing outside the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. In UT's final game of the season, the Longhorns lost to Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl by a score of 30-10.
Of the top-five most valuable college teams, only two finished in the AP Top 25. Ohio State, the fourth most valuable program, closed the season ranked 12th. Notre Dame, the second most valuable team, finished the season ranked 20th by the AP.
The five best teams of the 2013 college football season were scattered throughout Brewer's rankings. FSU finished first, followed by Auburn, Michigan State, the 29th most valuable program, South Carolina, the 17th most valuable program, and Missouri, which didn't make the list.
The Southeastern Conference has 12 programs on the rich list, the most of any collegiate athletic conference. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Mississippi, Kentucky and Mississippi State all made the list. The schools are listed based on their value.
The Big Ten Conference has 11 programs: Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana and Purdue.
The Pacific 12 Conference has 10 programs: Southern California, Oregon, Washington, UCLA, California, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, Oregon State and Stanford.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has eight programs: Florida State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, NC State and Syracuse.
The Big 12 Conference also has eight programs on the list: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Iowa State and West Virginia.
Notre Dame is the only remaining program on the list and is independent of conference affiliation.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Brewer calculated his valuations based on each program's revenues and expenses and made cash-flow adjustments, risk assessments and growth projections for every school.
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