Syracuse No. 31 On Collegiate Licensing Company's Top Selling University Brands

According to the Collegiate Licensing Company's annual list of top-selling institutions and manufacturers, the Syracuse Orange are the 31st best-selling college brand in the nation. Not too shabby for a private school in Upstate New York whose football team you think always goes 4-8.

The report says college licensed merchandise in 2012 was estimated at $4.62 billion. Billion with a B. Remember that the next time Mark Emmert says something about "student-athletes."

The Texas Longhorns are No. 1 in the rankings for the eighth-straight year. No wonder those guys get their own network. They're followed by Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan and Kentucky.

Fellow ACC schools include North Carolina (No. 9), Florida St. (No. 21), Clemson (No. 24), Louisville (No. 25), Virginia Tech (No. 27), Duke (No. 34) and Miami (No. 37).

What's cool about the list and Syracuse's place on it is that it's very obviously football-driven. And while the Orange might not be able to match-up with the schools near the top, that a small(ish) basketball-first school can be among these guys in terms of brand recognition and value is pretty impressive.

The point is, as always, give the athletes money already (or let them get jobs...).