LAWRENCE — A new-look Big 12 Conference has provided Kansas Athletics with an opportunity to establish itself even further as a leader in the league, and, according to CNBC, the valuation of the Jayhawks supports that effort.
KU is not just one of the top 75 programs in college athletics, when it comes to conversations with those in the private equity space interested in investing. According to the rankings, which “exclude military academies and are limited to schools that participate in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS, which tend to attract top players,” Kansas is actually one of the leaders in the Big 12. The Jayhawks’ valuation of $553 million is second in the league to only Texas Tech’s $619 million.
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Overall, Kansas’ valuation places its 37th nationally while Texas Tech’s is 33rd. Following close behind in the top 40 is TCU, at No. 39, at $542 million. Elsewhere in the top 50 are No. 41 Arizona at $532 million, No. 44 Baylor at $513 million, No. 46 Oklahoma State at $500 million and No. 48 Iowa State at $492 million.
Kansas’ valuation eclipses that of rival Kansas State. Both are in-state, public institutions. Kansas State’s valuation, which is ranked 57th in the nation, is set at $444 million.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
