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The Faculty Soccer Playoff system did its job in 2023, as the highest two groups—No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington, each undefeated at 14–0—will face off at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night time. Nevertheless it’s not simply the ultimate recreation of the season. It can even be the ultimate recreation of faculty soccer as we presently understand it. Convention realignment threatens to show the game on its head, beginning in 2024.
The CFP itself will look totally different in 2024, too, as it is going to increase to 12 groups after 10 years of the present four-team format.
With that, right here’s a take a look at Monday’s recreation between Michigan and Washington, by the numbers.
18.4 million
The entire mixed Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) valuation of Michigan and Washington’s packages. Since NIL was launched in 2021, enabling faculty athletes to make cash from their title, picture, and likeness by way of sponsorships, it’s develop into considerably of a recruiting instrument for big-market, Energy 5 faculties, as beginner athletes can now weigh earnings potential as an element when selecting a college.
Michigan gamers are presently price a complete of $11.3 million in NIL cash, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy at $1.4 million (Eleventh-most within the nation). In the meantime, Washington gamers signify $7.4 million in NIL earnings, led by their quarterback, Michael Penix, Jr., at $1.3 million (Thirteenth general). Between the 2 groups, they’ve seven gamers featured amongst faculty soccer’s prime 100 NIL earners.
61
The mixed rankings of the 2 faculties on U.S. Information and World Report’s list of best universities for 2024. Michigan ranks twenty first on this yr’s listing whereas Washington ranks fortieth, making them the 2 highest-ranked faculties to play within the CFP championship recreation. The subsequent closest was final yr’s title recreation, by which Georgia (No. 49) defeated TCU (No. 89).
3,282
The common championship recreation ticket value on the secondary market, according to TicketIQ. With NRG Stadium’s greater than 72,000 seats lengthy offered out, the secondary market has been followers’ solely possibility. The common secondary market ticket value is $3,282, which is the third highest in CFP historical past behind Alabama–Georgia ($4,040) in 2018 and Alabama–Ohio State ($3,610) in 2021. Final yr’s recreation between Georgia and TCU averaged simply $1,626 per ticket.
Ticket costs had been initially poised to set a brand new document excessive after Michigan beat Alabama. After that recreation and earlier than the kickoff of Texas versus Washington, costs hit $5,758, possible in anticipation of a win by the favored Longhorns. However when Texas misplaced, costs plummeted 43%.
24.8 million
The common variety of championship recreation viewers within the CFP’s nine-year historical past. The primary CFP title recreation, between Ohio State and Oregon in 2015, was essentially the most watched with greater than 34 million viewers, Georgia’s win over TCU final yr was the least watched, tallying simply over 17 million. Each of this yr’s semifinal video games topped that quantity, with Michigan’s win over Alabama receiving 27.2 million viewers whereas Washington’s win over Texas drew 18.4 million.
460 million
ESPN’s annual tab for the rights to air all CFP video games. The CFP is in Yr 10 of a 12-year contract with ESPN, which televises all three video games—the 2 semifinals and title recreation—every year. The community pays the CFP roughly $460 million yearly for the broadcasting rights.
0
The variety of {dollars} the groups taking part in within the nationwide championship obtain in payout from the CFP. As of 2021-22, every convention receives a $6 million payout from the CFP for every crew chosen for a semifinal recreation and one other $4 million for every crew that performs in a non-playoff bowl beneath the CFP. For the nationwide championship recreation, nevertheless, there isn’t a extra payout, although every faculty receives $2.74 million to cowl journey, lodging, and meals bills.
4.1 million
The distinction between the 2 head coaches’ salaries. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh earned a base wage of $8.3 million in 2023, almost twice that of Washington’s Kalen DeBoer ($4.2 million). In a world of long-term contracts price near $100 million and $75-million-plus buyouts when coaches get fired (taking a look at you, Texas A&M), Harbaugh ranks because the Thirteenth-highest-paid coach within the nation, whereas DeBoer doesn’t even sniff the highest 25—but every has his crew competing for the sport’s largest prize.
1 million
The bonus Harbaugh will obtain if the Wolverines win the nationwide championship. Harbaugh’s base wage is augmented with incentives, together with a $500,000 bonus for successful the Large Ten Japanese Division and taking part in within the Large Ten title recreation, which he achieved. He additionally acquired $1 million for successful the Large Ten title and one other $500,000 for enjoying within the CFP semifinal. If he finishes the season with a win in opposition to Washington and a nationwide title, he earns one other $1 million.
DeBoer, in the meantime, additionally has an incentive-laden contract. To complement his $4.2-million base wage, he earned one other $150,000 mixed for enjoying in and successful the Pac-12 title recreation. He acquired one other $400,000 bonus for enjoying within the CFP semifinal, together with one other $450,000 for making it to the nationwide championship. If he can lead the Huskies to a win over Michigan on Monday, nevertheless, his bonus will probably be simply $50,000.
0
The variety of {dollars} famed Texas sports activities bettor Mattress Mack will guess on Monday’s recreation. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is a Texas sports activities fanatic who owns a retail furnishings chain in Houston. However he’s most well-known for the exorbitant bets he locations on Texas sports activities. He gained roughly $75 million off $10 million in bets on the Houston Astros to win the World Collection in 2022. That very same yr, nevertheless, he positioned a dropping $4.5 million guess on the Cincinnati Bengals within the 2022 Tremendous Bowl.
After betting $6.15 million on Alabama to beat Georgia within the 2022 nationwide championship, $3.1 million on TCU to beat Georgia final yr, and $1 million on Texas to beat Washington final weekend—all losses—Mattress Mack determined he’ll maintain his pockets closed and sit out this yr’s nationwide title recreation.
200 million
The greater than 100,000 followers flooding Houston to attend Monday’s recreation at NRG Stadium are anticipated to boost the local economy by about $200 million.
4
The variety of prime 25 NFL prospects taking part in within the nationwide championship recreation, in line with ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. For Washington, quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Penix Jr. and large receiver Rome Odunze are amongst Kiper’s prime 10 draft prospects, whereas offensive lineman Troy Fautanu ranks fifteenth on Kiper’s massive board. Michigan’s lone consultant within the prime 25 is its quarterback, McCarthy, clocking in at twenty third on the listing.
4,500
The variety of passing yards Penix Jr. has surpassed in every of the previous two seasons. The final quarterback to perform this feat was Patrick Mahomes in 2015-16. Chances are you’ll not have recognized Penix Jr.’s title earlier than studying this, however after Monday’s nationwide championship recreation, you may not have the ability to overlook it.
0-3
The document of No. 1-ranked groups when going through the No. 2 crew within the CFP title recreation. Michigan has been favored in every of its 14 video games this season and is once more favored over Washington on Monday night time, opening with a 3.5-point edge and since shifting to a 4.5-point favourite. The Huskies, in the meantime, are available because the underdog for the third straight recreation. So whereas Las Vegas could also be with the Wolverines, historical past could also be on Washington’s aspect.
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