FC: Is football worth it?

[IBeBlockin]

Ohio State paid a bigger price than we thought to win a national championship

Ohio State's athletic department redefined the meaning of going all in and then some to win a national title. It better have been worth it.

fansided.com

 

[Midnighter]

Ohio State paid a bigger price than we thought to win a national championship

Ohio State's athletic department redefined the meaning of going all in and then some to win a national title. It better have been worth it.

fansided.com

Is NIL money counted towards the deficit? If so, how? Schools can't directly pay players yet. But, is it worth it? Ask Texas....

Texas athletics set school records for revenue, expenses in 2024. Here's why

Here's what we learned from the NCAA financial report filed by Texas for the 2024 fiscal year.

www.statesman.com

The Longhorns reported record totals for both revenue and expenses, according to documents obtained by the USA TODAY Network via a records request.

Texas brought in $331,905,866 in revenue in the 2024 fiscal year. It also accumulated $325,025,506 in expenses to reach a surplus of roughly $6.9 million for the year.

 

[BobPSU92]

We just made our defensive coordinator the highest-paid in the land. It had better be worth it.

 

[psuro]

Like anyhting else - it depends on what you value. At the other end of the spectrum, Sonoma State (D-II program) decided they did not value athletics any more (and some academic disciplines).

 

[ApexLion]

It definitely brings up a variety of questions after you have outspent just about everyone and won the playoff games.

So what? Who cares at that point?" Your proved what exactly? That you could buy the best formerly amateur kids in the country?

Call me unimpressed even if James somehow bungles his way to the top.

 

[razpsu]

 

[Catch1lion]

Can’t no PhD, n hold me down

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I’m starting to lean into enjoying what I got. Schit is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Midnighter]

I’m starting to lean into enjoying what I got. Schit is beyond ridiculous.

The inherent problem with college football is that it is unfair. Outside of maybe scholarship limits, there is absolutely nothing in place to ensure even the hint of a level playing field. Will be interesting to see the first 'mid' tier Power 5 team to call it quits and I believe it will happen. Can Pitt afford to compete at a continuing loss? Duke? How long will conferences keep dead weight they have to share revenue with?

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

The inherent problem with college football is that it is unfair. Outside of maybe scholarship limits, there is absolutely nothing in place to ensure even the hint of a level playing field. Will be interesting to see the first 'mid' tier Power 5 team to call it quits and I believe it will happen. Can Pitt afford to compete at a continuing loss? Duke? How long will conferences keep dead weight they have to share revenue with?

Yea, I’m just gonna love on my team, enjoy some roadtrips, new hat once a year. It’s gonna be all ok

 

[Catch1lion]

Yea, I’m just gonna love on my team, enjoy some roadtrips, new hat once a year. It’s gonna be all ok

Going back to Cali Rick

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

That dude is on moms bucket list

 

[OaktonDave]

The inherent problem with college football is that it is unfair. Outside of maybe scholarship limits, there is absolutely nothing in place to ensure even the hint of a level playing field. Will be interesting to see the first 'mid' tier Power 5 team to call it quits and I believe it will happen. Can Pitt afford to compete at a continuing loss? Duke? How long will conferences keep dead weight they have to share revenue with?

100% agree. At some point, some schools are going to look at the complexity and cost of major college football and ask themselves the purpose and the benefit. They will be facing a host of complex non-sports related challenges while also trying to operate minor league professional sports franchises. From a purely mission perspective, it makes no sense, so why do it?

 

[ODShowtime]

I can tell you the two buckeyes I've had the displeasure of discussing it with both agree the title is tainted due to the michigan loss. So not worth it to them.

I've tried to point out they need to get past this ridiculous rivalry but they won't hear it.

 

[Bosco2]

100% agree. At some point, some schools are going to look at the complexity and cost of major college football and ask themselves the purpose and the benefit. They will be facing a host of complex non-sports related challenges while also trying to operate minor league professional sports franchises. From a purely mission perspective, it makes no sense, so why do it?

If a school drops football and keeps operating other sports wouldn't they be in a worse fiscal state since football, even if it loses money, still pays the freight for everyone else? The only way to NOT lose money on athletics for most schools is to drop sports altogether. Am I thinking correctly here?

 

[psu31trap]

I’ve heard of people, teams or organizations take a tremendous financial loss in order to win a championship, race or game. I remember reading about the America’s Cup in ‘92. How Bill Koch took it on the chin to the tune of $65 million to win a sail boat race!!! Look no further than the LA Dodgers who have found a way to recklessly postpone the payment of these insane salaries.

What NIL and the portal have done is turn college football into a professional football league under the guise of college athletics. Ohio State just proved that you can buy a championship. NIL and the portal torpedoed the Nick Saban and SEC approach of manipulating admission standards and offering prime time exposure to lure 5 star athletes. Now it’s solely about MONEY and Ohio State figured out that it is going to be nearly impossible for other conferences to compete against their alumni base and a bloated AD budget.

 

[Midnighter]

If a school drops football and keeps operating other sports wouldn't they be in a worse fiscal state since football, even if it loses money, still pays the freight for everyone else? The only way to NOT lose money on athletics for most schools is to drop sports altogether. Am I thinking correctly here?

Not really; you could move to a regional model that would be more sustainable (even for football). Have to quit looking at it as a profit generator and more of an enriching student experience. First thing to slash is $5mm+ salaries of head coaches.

 

[bdgan]

Ohio State paid a bigger price than we thought to win a national championship

Ohio State's athletic department redefined the meaning of going all in and then some to win a national title. It better have been worth it.

fansided.com

I don't know what NIL has to do with the school losing money. NIL comes from 3rd parties.

One thing for sure the school can't indefinitely lose money. I remember when the Miami Marlins owner bought a world series title at an enormous cost then cut a lot of the payroll loose because there weren't enough revenues to offset the cost.

 

[Bison13]

Outside of football and Men's basketball do any other sports ANYWHERE make money? Maybe South Carolina/LSU/Iowa in womens hoops, maybe Nebraska VB though I doubt it since our ladies dont even make a profit. Midnighter is exactly right that these sports should be regionalized. Let FB/BB/ maybe even WBB stay with what they currently have but otherwise save $ on travel.

Many time in HS when we are in budget crunches, we tell our teams that they must play a few games on Saturday rather than during the week and we have the kids transport themselves. Or in other cases we have told our coaches that we need to schedule games with closer opponents or that then only get 2 instead of 3 preseason scrimmages or that baseball only gets 1 umpire. NCAA cant do that kind of stuff but the travel expense portion certain can be reduced

 

[Bosco2]

Not really; you could move to a regional model that would be more sustainable (even for football). Have to quit looking at it as a profit generator and more of an enriching student experience. First thing to slash is $5mm+ salaries of head coaches.

The BIG was sort of regional until it wasn't.

 

[Grant Green]

The inherent problem with college football is that it is unfair. Outside of maybe scholarship limits, there is absolutely nothing in place to ensure even the hint of a level playing field. Will be interesting to see the first 'mid' tier Power 5 team to call it quits and I believe it will happen. Can Pitt afford to compete at a continuing loss? Duke? How long will conferences keep dead weight they have to share revenue with?

I'll make a bet right now that zero P4 teams (it's not P5 anymore with the PAC12 decimated) drop their football program. You name the time period. 2 years? 4 years? $100 to the winner's charity of choice. We on?

 

[Midnighter]

I'll make a bet right now that zero P4 teams (it's not P5 anymore with the PAC12 decimated) drop their football program. You name the time period. 2 years? 4 years? $100 to the winner's charity of choice. We on?

Sure - 2036 when the ACC TV contract expires.

 

[Grant Green]

Sure - 2036 when the ACC TV contract expires.

Ha, ok. Not really the timeframe I expected based on your post but whatever.

 

[PSUHarry]

That dude is on moms bucket list

What's the status of Lenny Kravitz these days?

 

[Midnighter]

Ha, ok. Not really the timeframe I expected based on your post but whatever.

It's when the TV money dries up. I guess it could be before then if ESPN/ACC agree to terminate. That is when FSU and Clemson bolt (along with probably UNC, VT, VA) and the others are out in the cold (for football anyway).

 

[Midnighter]

What's the status of Lenny Kravitz these days?

I'd like to see the bucket list/hall pass.

 

[PSUFTG]

I'll make a bet right now that zero P4 teams (it's not P5 anymore with the PAC12 decimated) drop their football program. You name the time period. 2 years? 4 years? $100 to the winner's charity of choice. We on?

Completely drop football? I agree - won't likely happen at any reasonably short period of time (if for no other reason than for the HUGE sunk costs/capital costs every P4 program has in the sport..... and the fact that even if they become perennial 2-10 teams. it would be almost impossible to not be able to make $ on football as long as the TV contracts are in place)

But "relegating" from P4 to "G5"? Yep. I don't think it will be long before we see that
Relegating from "G5" to FCS? Yep, I don't expect that will take long
Many (most? all?) of those "relegations" are likely to be forced relegations (eg: A "contributes not enough to earn their keep" program - pick your horse, Mississippi State, Rutgers, etc) gets the boot so that the big boys no longer have to hand them a slice of the pie.
Those things would have happened already - except for:
1) "Tradition"
2) No one (and no conference) wanting to look like the first "bad guy"
3) There is such a fat trough for everyone to wallow in (still), until they are all swelled up like ticks on a hound... but those days are going to be gone soon enough

 

[Grant Green]

Completely drop football? I agree - won't likely happen at any reasonably short period of time (if for no other reason than for the HUGE sunk costs/capital costs every P4 program has in the sport..... and the fact that even if they become perennial 2-10 teams. it would be almost impossible to not be able to make $ on football as long as the TV contracts are in place)

But "relegating" from P4 to "G5"? Yep. I don't think it will be long before we see that
Relegating from "G5" to FCS? Yep, I don't expect that will take long
Many (most? all?) of those "relegations" are likely to be forced relegations (eg: A "contributes not enough to earn their keep" program - pick your horse, Mississippi State, Rutgers, etc) gets the boot so that the big boys no longer have to hand them a slice of the pie.
Those things would have happened already - except for:
1) "Tradition"
2) No one (and no conference) wanting to look like the first "bad guy"
3) There is such a fat trough for everyone to wallow in (still), until they are all swelled up like ticks on a hound... but those days are going to be gone soon enough

I assumed that "call it quits" from the OP means drop altogether.
Relegating is a different thing. We've already seen that with Idaho dropping to FCS a few years ago and Oregon State and WSU basically dropping to G5 this year. We've also seen teams advancing recently, which I think will continue and will offset any relegations (Kennesaw, Sam Houston, JMU).

 

[OaktonDave]

If a school drops football and keeps operating other sports wouldn't they be in a worse fiscal state since football, even if it loses money, still pays the freight for everyone else? The only way to NOT lose money on athletics for most schools is to drop sports altogether. Am I thinking correctly here?

If a college sports program, any college sports program, loses money it can't pay for anything else. Beyond that,It's not necessarily an all or nothing proposition. As I read the post I responded to, it suggested that some P5 schools may eventually decide there's little value or point in trying to compete in an arena where enormous amounts of money there are neither willing or able to spend are required for coaches, players, and athletes with limited hope of success. I added the question of uncertain benefit to the school of operating such a program. That doesn't necessarily mean dropping the sport altogether; it could mean competing at a G5 or FCS level. In that environment, you have more true "student athletes" and the football program isn't expected to be a cash machine.

 

[BiochemPSU]

Nobody will be dropping anything. All of these NIL suckers just got told they "have a chance" because of the 12 team playoff. "Maybe they'll expand it next year!" they say "Cinderella!" All of those fans, NIL wannabe football influencers, and media will never let the schools walk away from football; they all bought into the casino that is the football playoff. On any given year, there are only 3 to 5 schools who can actually win this. But hope springs eternal.

 

[Nitt1300]

no

 

[Nitt1300]

It definitely brings up a variety of questions after you have outspent just about everyone and won the playoff games.

So what? Who cares at that point?" Your proved what exactly? That you could buy the best formerly amateur kids in the country?

Call me unimpressed even if James somehow bungles his way to the top.

I trust you'll cease complaining if he doesn't?

 

[PSUSignore]

They ran a deficit because the prior fiscal year had 8 home games and the current one had 6, and they had to pay a large buyout for a basketball coach. This article is making a connection that isn't really the cause of the deficit at all, but why not just make up some BS? It's a one off situation for OSU that probably isn't much of a concern. Journalism is dead.

 

[BobPSU92]

Everyone clamors for a NATTY. . So, you win one. Big f*cking deal. They reset and do the sh|t all over again next year.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

What's the status of Lenny Kravitz these days?

Him too

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I'd like to see the bucket list/hall pass.

LL. Lenny. The Rock

 

[Midnighter]

LL. Lenny. The Rock

Um….sensing a type….

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Um….sensing a type….

Hell bro, I’d sleep with Lenny.

 

[Midnighter]

LL. Lenny. The Rock

Mine would be all over the place. Like - Emma Stone, Olivia Rodrigo, Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, Florence Pugh, and Rachel Cook.

 

[Catch1lion]

Hell bro, I’d sleep with Lenny.

Whew, glad my Pantone shade is a few clicks lighter . I’m safe .