Gophers No. 7 worst football program for the money. - KMSP-TV

Gophers No. 7 worst football program for the money.

The University of Minnesota has been ranked by Forbes magazine as the nation's No. 7 worst football program for the money.

The Gophers are one of only three teams in the 10 Worst, along with No. 6 Duke and No. 9 Purdue, that qualified for bowl games this year.

To find the worst college football teams for the money, Forbes looked at each team's three-year-average of spending per win, using the most recent financial data made available by the Department of Education (2009-10 through 2011-12) and the three most recent seasons played, not including this year's bowl games.

The ranking methodology assumes much of one year's spending contributes to the following year's on-field performance. The rankings only include teams that have been members of an automatic-qualifying conference for the last three seasons, and each team's win total was adjusted to reflect a 12-game schedule to account for conference championships and bowl games.

10 WORST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS FOR THE MONEY

1. Kansas Jayhawks
Cost per win: $8,008,880
3-year football expenses: $48 million

2. Indiana Hoosiers
Cost per win: $5,830,877
3-year football expenses: $58 million

3. Colorado Buffaloes
Cost per win: $4,703,188
3-year football expenses: $41 million

4. Washington State Cougars
Cost per win: $4,567,675
3-year football expenses: $41 million

5. Boston College Eagles
Cost per win: $4,292,148
3-year football expenses: $54 million

6. Duke Blue Devils
Cost per win: $4,131,775
3-year football expenses: $50 million

7. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Cost per win: $3,794,297
3-year football expenses: $46 million

8. California Golden Bears
Cost per win: $3,632,390
3-year football expenses: $53 million

9. Purdue Boilermakers
Cost per win: $3,462,964
3-year football expenses: $57 million

10. Auburn Tigers
Cost per win: $3,433,053
3-year football expenses: $79 million