Study: IU basketball is nation’s second most valuable program

Although its overall value declined, Indiana basketball is the nation’s second most valuable program, according to a study published by The Wall Street Journal.

After coming in fourth in the study released 2016 (2015 data) and third in 2017 (with 2016 data) in Ryan Brewer’s annual rankings of the country’s most valuable college basketball program’s, IU moved up to second in this year’s study, which includes 2017 data.

The study was published on Monday morning by the The Wall Street Journal (paid link).

Indiana was valued at $243.8 million in 2015, a record $277.8 million in 2016 and $243 million in 2017. This year’s valuation represents a 12.5 percent decrease from last year. In 2014’s study, Indiana was eighth nationally at $199 million.

Kentucky, valued at $246.6 million, topped the valuation study and Louisville, valued at $233.6 million, was third.

The values are assigned using factors that determine what a program would be worth on the market if it could be sold like a professional team. Among those factors: expenses, revenue, cash-flow, risk assessments and growth projections.

Brewer is an assistant professor of finance at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus.

Here’s how the other Big Ten programs came in on the list:

6. Wisconsin – $160.6 million (down 10.2%)
8. Ohio State – $143.3 million (down 19.4%)
10. Maryland – $131.8 million (down 14.8%)
12. Purdue – $103.2 million (down 26.5%)
13. Illinois – $100.7 million (down 20.6%)
14. Northwestern – $100 million (up 7.3%)
17. Michigan – $95.4 million (down 1.9%)
18. Minnesota – $91.4 million (up 17.4%)
26. Michigan State – $68.2 million (down 25.8%)
29. Iowa – $63.8 million (up 5%)
32. Penn State – $62.4 million (down 2.9%)
48. Nebraska – $45.6 million (down 4.2%)
75. Rutgers – $31 million (up 7.8%)

Filed to: Wall Street Journal