In this episode, we break down a recent report from CNBC that ranks the Top 75 most valuable athletic departments in college sports. While the "Power 2" might hold the top spots, the Big 12 is proving to be competitive—and WVU is right in the thick of the conversation.

📊 The Numbers You Need to Know:

According to the CNBC valuations, West Virginia University ranks #58 nationally with a department valuation of $481 million.

How does that compare to the rest of the Big 12 and our rivals? We will take a look at that in the show with a spreadsheet ranking all Big 12 teams. We will also take a look at three of WVU's biggest rivals.

💰 Why This Matters Now

With Utah recently securing a groundbreaking $500 million deal with Otro Capital, the blueprint for Big 12 financial expansion has changed. We discuss whether Wren Baker and the WVU Board of Governors—who recently vowed to increase athletics funding—will seek similar private capital to keep the Mountaineers in the "top tier" of the conference.

In this video, we cover:

A deep dive into the CNBC Top 75 list.

The "Arms Race": Can WVU out-resource the new Group of 5 additions to the Big 12?

What a potential private equity deal would mean for Mountaineer Field and the Coliseum.

In the second half of the show, we will talk about several All-Americans that will be coming to WVU from the JUCO ranks.

Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into the business of WVU Athletics!

Sources:

CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/cnbc-official-college-sports-valuations-2025-top-75-athletic-programs.html

Blue Dragon Sports: https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/fball/2025-26/releases/20251220i3ahqr

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