Penn State had the third-most-profitable U.S. college football program in the 2009-2010 academic year, according to an analysis released Wednesday by CNNMoney.

The analysis, informed by data from the U.S. Department of Education, showed that the Penn State football program had revenue of about $70.2 million in '09-'10. Of that, nearly $50.43 million was profit, the analysis shows.

Penn State uses football income in large part to support other athletic ventures at the university.

In terms of overall profit, only the football programs at Texas and Georgia yielded more than Penn State's, according to the analysis.

Earlier coverage

• Penn State Football: Paterno Feels 'Great,' Sees No Reason to Retire Now, He Says (Dec. 28, 2010)
  

• Penn State Football: SuePa Calls Joe Paterno Rumors 'Lies' (Dec. 27, 2010)