Big Ten Restores Penn State's Football Conference Bowl Revenue Sharing Effective Next Season
ByPenn State's football team may be as close to being back to normal as possible, as the Big Ten will restore the program's conference bowl revenue share starting next season.
League officials confirmed to ESPN Thursday that the Nittany Lions will once again be able to share in the Big Ten's revenue share for bowl games. Possibly the least talked about sanction in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, the Big Ten tied Lions' lost revenue share to their bowl ban.
But this year the NCAA lifted Penn State's football bowl ban and the Lions played Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Big Ten deputy commissioner Brad Traviolia estimated member schools will earn $6.6 million in revenue share next postseason.
"The Big Ten's original bowl fine was based on NCAA actions, most of which have been rescinded over the past six months," the league said in a statement to ESPN. "As a result, the [Council of Presidents/Chancellors] supported restoration of Penn State's bowl revenue effective with the 2015-16 academic year."
A recently settled lawsuit allocated the $60 million Penn State University was fined to remain within the state to benefit child sex abuse victims. Another part of the settlement restored 112 of the late coach Joe Paterno's wins from 1998 to 2011 that was previously vacated. The team's coaching staff, led by James Franklin, is also operating with a full slate of scholarships, which were reduced in the sanctions as well.
Big Ten bowl game revenue shares were $2.26 million and $2.75 million in 2012 and 2013 respectively. That figure jumped to $4.6 million in 2014, the first year of the College Football Playoff.
"We are grateful to the Big Ten and the Council of Presidents and Chancellors for their decision to restore Penn State's share of the Conference bowl revenues to the University in the upcoming football season," Penn State President Eric Barron said in a statement. "These funds will help to support our 31 teams and more than 850 student-athletes.
"While we are pleased with the decision, we will not waver in our commitment to prevent child abuse, to maintain our leading compliance and safety programs, and to continue to invest in our teaching and research efforts focused on child abuse prevention and treatment."