No idea if this is accurate but this in what one person is reporting. We were among the lowest budgets.
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These are the figures from the NCAA MFRS reports for 24-25, so in that sense, they are accurate total expenses. 24-25 was pre-settlement rev share, so it wouldn’t include roster spend which was almost exclusively collective NIL that year.
The 25-26 versions of these reports, which is still probably 6 months away from release, should be very illuminating as we’ll start to see some revenue share figures, and even more the 26-27 version a year later, given the talk from Decker and company saying we are spending 8-10m on the football roster.
I think we’ll see a real jump in basketball revenue from last year (although unclear how will that compare to increase in spend), but especially curious when, if ever, we start seeing return on the football spending and if that spending increase is offset fully by increases in contributions or if Miami is picking up the check.
Not surprised by Montana State’s spend…my wife and I attended a game there about a decade ago and they had a great “game-day” atmosphere back then…and very strong fan (students/ alumni/ visitors) support.
I go to 4 or more games each year. It’s fantastic - from tailgating to the general atmosphere to the product on the field. My kids absolutely love it. Rumors are that shovels may be in the ground right when this season ends to upgrade the east stands.
Hindsight is 20/20 and forecasting is impossible, but the lack of snow this year would’ve made this spring ideal to at least get the new bleachers (maybe without boxes year 1) up.
The difference in support by fans, faculty, donors, and the town is night/day with the Miami basketball stadium “drama.”
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There are most definitely discussions about upgrades to Yager. I have not heard of a wholesale replacement like is being done for MBB/WBB/VB, but that hasn’t been ruled out either. At the very least expect significant changes to Yager Stadium.
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Not sure where the money is coming from unless 100% private donations. The new arena is priority at the moment I assume & will require a significant loan.
Mike Elko made some interesting comments and allusions yesterday. Elko is HC of Texas A & M:
Soon we will have football rosters whose cost exceeds the TV revenue schools get for football.
The 24 team playoff esssentially is a death knell for the bowl system. Once implemented the bowls will largely disappear. A few stragglers here and there, but overall, bowls as we know them gone.
A real shame if that happens. There have been some truly ridiculous bowls over the years. Standouts include:
- The Poulan Weedeater Bowl. UC once lobbied their 7-5 team deserved in. They didn’t get in.
- The Beef-o-Brady bowl. Sounds like dog food.
- The Zaxbies Heart of Dallas bowl. Who names this stuff….
And all the while no 2000 Flushes bowl.
Gone…gone…gone… Think I read it will be the end of conference championships. See ya Detroit. Has been fun event plenty of us went to over the past four or so years.
The end of bowls like the Snoop Bowl which we all followed and loved to watch.
All in the name of more money (and separation from schools like Miami) for the Big $$$ (I mean $4).
Big 4 schools are going to have back ups making more than our head coach. Gonna have guys (yea you know “student” athletes) on their 3rd or 4th school while chasing more NIL money. Bunch of real scholars and serious students majoring in staying eligible.
I don’t know. Just seems kind of sad.
I know at this stage it’s kind of like water over the dam. But chasing an ever bigger pay day while in college supposedly working to “earn a degree” just doesn’t seem to be what college sports is supposed to be about.
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Let me preface this by saying I hate where college athletics are. I hate everything about these “systems”. That being said, if the goal of college is to earn a living, and if you are earning enough money to live off comfortably for years to come once your money making roster money making days are finally done, then arguably college is serving its purpose to some degree.
Certainly one goal of college is preparing for your future economically. Call me naive or old fashioned, but I firmly believe the college experience offers a much broader range of benefits to the individual and society than just wage earning ability. That is a major reason why the current state of college athletics seems so inimical to the mission of higher ed.
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I’m a bit surprised to see William and Mary at #5. They’re the strongest academic university in the Coastal Athletic Association and haven’t been dominant in football in that conference. FCS is strongest further to the Midwest and West.
Joining Patriot League for football only in 2026
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Oh yeah. I forgot they are leaving. They’re better aligned academically with the Patriots even though they’ll be the only public.