• Loading stock data...
Monday, July 14, 2025

Financial Woes Could Force Arizona To Cut Sports Programs

  • Financially struggling university to consider dropping some varsity teams.
  • Errors in fiscal modeling, scholarship spending heighten crisis.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Big 12’s riches can’t arrive soon enough for the University of Arizona, and the financially struggling athletic program could cut some of its sports teams.

One of the conference’s newest entrants in their planned 2024 addition, the Wildcats now face a $240 million school-wide shortage following significant miscalculations in their financial modeling. The shortfall was disclosed last week at a monthly faculty senate meeting.

Arizona currently fields 23 varsity teams, six more than the Big 12 average. With that comparative overage and the fiscal struggles, cuts are being considered.

“Everything’s on the table in terms of dealing with athletics,” Arizona president Robert Robbins told Tucson.com. “This is an issue that is going to require a lot of tough decisions.”

Other Big 12 expansion schools have seen significant gains following their entry into the conference. But that windfall, if it happens for Arizona, remains a year away, and the conference’s $2.28 billion media rights deal with ESPN and Fox doesn’t start until 2025. 

“Clearly this is a major problem. I obviously take it very seriously,” Robbins said.

Even Bigger Issues

Arizona operates an athletic department annual budget of about $100 million, $40 million of which has come from the school’s prior membership in the Pac-12, $30 million from ticket sales, and the rest from philanthropy and contracts. During the pandemic, the school loaned the athletic department $55 million, and that money hasn’t been paid back “fast enough,” Robbins said.

But financial pressures are also coming into athletics from an admissions policy that guarantees static tuition for each student’s four years of study, and $300 million in financial aid and scholarships — a figure that Robbins called “not financially sustainable.”

“If you look at the band from 3.75 GPA to 4.0, there are a lot of students here that pay nothing. We lose money on every one,” Robbins said. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The 153rd Open Championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland

Open Championship Considers Ireland: Portrush ‘Will Open’ Gates

Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland is hosting this week’s tournament.

Lane Kiffin: ‘Doesn’t Seem’ Like CFB Revenue-Sharing Cap Works Very Well

The outspoken Ole Miss football coach isn’t impressed with revenue-sharing guidelines.

SEC’s Sankey Is ‘Fine’ With Big Ten’s Differing View on CFP Expansion

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey won’t commit to a 2026 CFP format.

SEC’s Greg Sankey: Conference Not Sold on Private Equity—for Now

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he’s taken PE meetings.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.

NCAA: March Madness Expansion to 76 Teams ‘Still Viable’ for 2026

Negotiations continue with media rights holder CBS and TNT Sports.
July 10, 2025

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.
The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
July 10, 2025

Athletic Departments Express Renewed Interest in PE in Wake of House Settlement

Schools now have more expenses—and are looking for creative solutions.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard KK Arnold (2)1 dribbles against UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena.
July 10, 2025

‘Kind of a Joke’: Frustrations Mount As New NIL Deal Approval Process..

Delays have already led to athletes losing NIL opportunities.
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.
July 9, 2025

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.
Sebastian Rivera (R) tf. Danny Coles 6:47 (20-3). Rutgers University Wrestling vs Princeton in Piscataway, NJ on February 18, 2022.
July 9, 2025

The House Settlement Is Being Appealed. It Won’t Stop Revenue-Sharing—for Now

The settlement’s approval on June 6 triggered an appeals process.
July 9, 2025

Big Ten, Big 12 Commissioners Remain Far Apart on CFP’s Future

A decision on expansion must be made by December.