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SALT LAKE CITY -- The latest revenue numbers from college football programs across the country reveal a growing disparity between BCS and non-automatic qualifying schools, and Utah's attorney general says it's more evidence to justify an anti-trust lawsuit.
According to records filed with the Department of Education, Texas led all football programs in 2008, posting $87 million in revenue and $65 million profit.
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"I've known we're talking a lot of money, but every time I see new figures come out, it's like, wow, that's even more than I thought," said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer."
By comparison, BYU and Utah reported profits that were fractions of the top BCS schools. Utah, a Sugar Bowl participant in '08, reported nearly $16.4 million in revenue and $6.5 million profit. BYU was nearly $2.4 million in the black, after accruing $12.5 million in revenue.
"The disparity gap is greater and, in my opinion, that's being done illegally and in violation of anti-trust laws," Shurtleff said.
The participants in Monday night's Sugar Bowl -- both non-AQ programs -- reported similar circumstances to BYU and Utah. Boise State was more than $3.1 million in the black in 2008; TCU simply broke even.
Shurtleff says he's moving forward with his planned lawsuit. His office has prepared a 3-inch thick binder to hand over to the Department of Justice, in a bid to recruit federal prosecutors to the fight.
The attorney general also plans to meet with the department's anti-trust chief within the next three months. He says he has successfully recruited schools and states to join him in the lawsuit, but wouldn't disclose who they are.
