A nationwide investigation by InvestigateTV found that only 10 of the 109 public FBS universities generate enough revenue to cover their own athletic costs. The remaining schools pulled more than $2.1 billion from mandatory student fees and general university funds to fill the gap.
Because those fees are often folded into tuition, many students end up covering the shortfall through loans, meaning a graduate could spend decades paying off a deficit in a sports department they never joined. The investigation also examines seven-figure NIL deals for high school athletes, coaching buyouts like Brian Kelly’s $54 million exit, and legislation Congress is now weighing on how college sports get financed. Reporter Chris Nakamoto breaks down the findings.
Here on the Suncoast, college sports are part of the fabric, from spring training crowds in Sarasota to alumni ties across the region. That’s exactly why this story matters locally: the same public universities that fill our standings and stadiums are the ones asking students to cover the difference. So we want to hear from you — if your tuition helped fund an athletic department, did you know about it before you signed?
