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Last Updated on January 16, 2022
Thanks to the SEC’s bylaws, Alabama and Georgia are each set to take home $4.2 million of the $6 million they have each earned for the conference for their appearance in the semifinal and national championship games, in addition to travel allowances.
The College Football Playoff pays $6 million to each semifinal team, plus travel allowances, but the funds go directly to the conference. Each conference then has its own rules as to how that money is distributed within the conference. The SEC gives $2.05 million for each team participating in the semifinals and another $2.15 million for the championship game.
The SEC Constitution and Bylaws for 2021-21 state in Section 31.21.1(d):
For bowl games providing receipts which result in a balance of $6,000,000 or more and all College Football Playoff games, the participating institution shall receive $2,050,000 ($2,050,000 if the SEC team is a participant in the College Football Playoff semi-finals game; an additional $2,150,000 if the SEC team is also a participant in the College Football Playoff championship game, which determines the National Champion), plus a travel allowance as determined by the SEC Executive Committee. Institutions participating in a College Football Playoff game may also request additional travel expenses, which may be granted to such institution at the Commissioner’s discretion. The remainder shall be remitted to the Commissioner and shall be divided into 15 equal shares, with one share to the Conference and one share to each member institution.
This provision has existed for the entirety of the College Football Playoff, although the amount in 2014-15 was $2 million for a semifinal game and $2.1 million for the championship game.
Conference differences with College Football Playoff payouts
If you were curious, the SEC’s method of handling CFP money is somewhat unique. Conferences differ on exactly how they distribute College Football Playoff payouts to their members. Some conferences give participation bonuses–for lack of a better term–to the teams that participate in semifinal and national championship games, while others divide CFP money evenly between members as with all other revenue.
ACC: no participation bonus for participating teams.
Big 12: CFP participants receive the higher of Formula A or B.
FORMULA A:
College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship, Semifinal
- Participation Subsidy: $2,387,025
- Travel Subsidy: $424/one-way mile
FORMULA B:
College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship, Semifinal
- Participation Subsidy: $2,015,710
- Travel Subsidy: $849/one-way mile
Big Ten: [waiting on confirmation]
Pac-12: no participation bonus for participating teams.
SEC: The SEC gives $2.05 million for each team participating in the semifinals and another $2.15 million for the championship game.
Find more on the College Football Playoff payouts–both current and historical–check out our College Football Playoff payouts home here.
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