Football season ticket sales have been a major point of contention for the Texas Longhorns this offseason.

A report earlier in the summer said Texas’ season ticket sales were down after the school increased prices in some areas of the stadium. But Texas men’s athletic director Steve Patterson said on Sunday that season tickets for the 2015 season are tracking well compared to 2014 at this point.

Patterson also added that revenue for season tickets compared to last season is up nine percent.

“We’re excited about our attendance, and we’ll have great attendance this year,” Patterson said. “I anticipate we’ll be right around where we were last year for season ticket sales.”

Season ticket prices spiked this offseason by as much as 30 percent for tickets near the 50-yard line, according to number acquired by the Austin American-Statesman. These jumps follow a season in which the Longhorns finished 6-7 overall.

Patterson said season ticket prices for the Longhorns were adjusted in order to raise revenue and keep up with up comparable prices nationally. Patterson said before the price jump tickets for an Ohio State game near the 50-yard line were nearly three times what Texas charged. According to Patterson, the price spike in some premium areas allowed the cost of tickets to stay down in other areas of the stadium.

Texas does have a season ticket plan available for under $200.

“You had to get the ticket prices in line with the perceived value,” Patterson said.

Patterson also added revenues for volleyball (20-plus percent) and men’s basketball (nine percent) were up.

How Patterson judges football progress

Entering the second season of a five-year contract, Charlie Strong’s job at Texas isn’t really in question. But how exactly does Patterson evaluate the football team’s performance each season?

“Improved play on the field week in and week out and the consistency of play,” Patterson said.

Following a 6-7 campaign in his first year at Texas, Strong is looking for a bounce-back season. Strong has said many times 6-7 is not acceptable, and he’s hopes to help the team take a major leap forward in 2015.

In Strong’s only head coaching job prior to his stint at Texas, Strong went 7-6 his first two seasons at Louisville. But in year three, the Cardinals went 11-2.

A similar improvement isn’t guaranteed at Texas, but Patterson is looking at more than just wins to assess the team’s performance.

“I think every year you evaluate what happens on and off the field,” Patterson said. “How the team plays, how the student athletes respond and how the community responds. Right now, the trend lines are looking up.”

Patterson on academic investigation

The University of Texas is currently conducting an internal investigation of its athletics department following a report from the Chronicle of Higher Education that highlighted three instances of academic misconduct during Rick Barnes’ tenure as head basketball coach.

Texas released a statement shortly after Chronicle's report that said “it had no information to suggest” Barnes had any knowledge of the alleged infractions.

To investigate, the University hired Gene Marsh, former chairman of the NCAA infractions committee, to review all of the academic services offered by the athletics department.

Patterson said Sunday that Marsh’s investigation is still ongoing, and he’s not sure of a timetable for its completion. Patterson did reiterate, however, that he doesn’t expect any instances of misconduct to be raised following Marsh’s inquiry.

“I don’t have any information that suggests otherwise,” Patterson said.

Patterson on realignment rumors

Realignment talk continues to run rampant across college athletics, with some of the newest rumors having BYU, Boise State, Colorado State, Houston and many other schools mentioned as a possibility to be added to the Big 12.

In June, Oklahoma president David Boren stated that the Big 12 is “psychologically disadvantaged” by only having 10 schools.

For now, conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby remained firm that the Big 12 is not looking to expand, saying there is no “critical mass” in favor of moving beyond 10 schools. Bowlsby did admit, however, there is some dissension from Big 12 presidents and chancellors about the topic.

Patterson said the decision of whether or not to expand would be made by the “CEOs” of the Big 12 – Patterson’s word for the presidents and chancellors of the conference. But at the moment, Patterson does not anticipate any impending changes to the Big 12’s 10-team makeup.

“I don’t get a sense that there is a great movement afoot,” Patterson said.