Tennessee nets profit after spending $1.4 million on Outback Bowl trip

Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd runs three yards for a touchdown against Northwestern during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd runs three yards for a touchdown against Northwestern during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

By Patrick Brown April 5, 2016 2 min read

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee spent more than $1.4 million on its Outback Bowl trip to end the 2015 football season, but the athletic department still turned a five-figure profit.

According to financial figures released Monday, Tennessee brought in $1,455,450 in revenue and accrued costs totaling $1,439,763 for a profit of $15,687 for the game in Tampa, Fla.

The Volunteers beat Northwestern 45-6 on New Year’s Day to finish the season 9-4.

The price tag for the Outback Bowl was much higher and the profit much lower than last season’s TaxSlayer Bowl, for which Tennessee generated a profit of more than $164,000 after spending more than $1.25 million.

The Outback Bowl’s payment to the Southeastern Conference was $3.05 million, according to a Tennessee official. That sum was lumped into the SEC’s large revenue pool, which includes money from television deals and the NCAA tournament. The SEC distributed $436.8 million – or $31.2 million per school – of that pool last year.