They can always join the conference UNI is in. That should be quite the rivalry.
Clown U facing a $147 million budget deficit through 2031; will postpone Hilton Coliseum renovation & construction of new Wrestling Practice Facility
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Then ISC can take out a loan for $100M+ shortfall
Not long at all. Jamie's already down by the traffic light w/ his tin can and sign.
Chances are slim and none that Iowa State gets a call from either P2. They really need to examine whether they 1) Can and 2) Want to play at that level. The gap is only going to get wider.
That would be part of the university budget and not the athletic dept. The AD must be self sustaining. The AD does not own the dorms.
ISUs only way out of this mess is to get an invite to the BIG or SEC. When the gap widens the lagg8ng Big 12 schools will crumble. Even if the Iowa legislature gets involved its not gonna help. Tax payer support for the 3 schools AD program isnt gonna cover the Broadcast revenue gap that continues to expand.
I wouldn't say 'crumble'. They'll just need to adjust their spending to what revenue they can regularly expect. UConn football went caput but their bball team is doing quite well. Cincy, Memphis, Houston are not getting P2, but their other sports can do well. ISU may have to adjust
Arizona is also growing in population, has lots of touri$m, and NFL, MLB, and NBA. Lots more revenue in the State coffers.
The Athletic May 2025: ‘Grow our own fans’: How Iowa State found a golden era after college athletics’ longest climb
"The date was Nov. 24, 1995. Iowa State beating Idaho State is irrelevant, but what stands out for Fennelly is the attendance: 310. His program had 31 season-ticket holders. The football program wasn’t much better; only twice that fall did the Cyclones draw more than 38,000 fans, with barely 27,000 showing up for the home finale.
Attendance was just one issue facing Iowa State athletics in 1995. Football hadn’t reached a bowl game since 1978, and it was trapped between a national power to its west in Nebraska and its instate rival to the east. Fennelly’s program hadn’t played Iowa in four years because the on-court disparity was too great. The athletic department was running annual deficits and was ordered by university leadership to reduce its budget by 14 percent....
...Iowa State’s athletics budget has more than quadrupled from $27 million in fiscal year 2005 to $114.1 million this year."
This is pandering by Pollard at the highest level. He wants the taxpayer to pay his athletes so they can continue to spend money on infrastructure, etc. ISU AD has been self-funded only since 2011. Before that the State had to balance their budget. Now he's not only begging his own fans to step up but also Iowa and UNI fans as well as residents who don't care about big-time college athletics to fund his program. Some on here even suggest that Iowa share it's P2 revenue to help fund ISC. It seems the State is always intervening to help elevate ISU to Iowa's level....from financial help to legislation (or threatened) to see that they play each other every year in a 'rivalry' game that ranks 90th in the country that fans care about. Not many outside Iowa give a rat's a@@ about the iowa-ISU game. Most revenue comes from inside Iowa. And then Pollard claims 'if Iowa cares about athletics, they'll help us or we'll lose it forever' (paraphrased). Pathetic.
But here's the truth...If the State tries to prop up ISU when they can't manage it on their own, it ends up hurting Iowa in the long run and curtails possible growth from them. You want Iowa and ISU to both be P2, then they'll both end up at the very bottom and ultimately be forced to withdraw from that level. Then see what happens to athletics in the entire State. Iowa will lose track, field hockey, baseball, etc b/c of lack of $ and exposure. ISU has already lost their baseball and wrestling is a shadow of what it was b/c the emphasis has been placed on FB and MBB at the expense of the rest of their programs except golf apparently. Money from big-names coming to the state will hurt local economies.
You can't risk hurting one to save the other and in the end hurting both.
"The date was Nov. 24, 1995. Iowa State beating Idaho State is irrelevant, but what stands out for Fennelly is the attendance: 310. His program had 31 season-ticket holders. The football program wasn’t much better; only twice that fall did the Cyclones draw more than 38,000 fans, with barely 27,000 showing up for the home finale.
Attendance was just one issue facing Iowa State athletics in 1995. Football hadn’t reached a bowl game since 1978, and it was trapped between a national power to its west in Nebraska and its instate rival to the east. Fennelly’s program hadn’t played Iowa in four years because the on-court disparity was too great. The athletic department was running annual deficits and was ordered by university leadership to reduce its budget by 14 percent....
...Iowa State’s athletics budget has more than quadrupled from $27 million in fiscal year 2005 to $114.1 million this year."
This is pandering by Pollard at the highest level. He wants the taxpayer to pay his athletes so they can continue to spend money on infrastructure, etc. ISU AD has been self-funded only since 2011. Before that the State had to balance their budget. Now he's not only begging his own fans to step up but also Iowa and UNI fans as well as residents who don't care about big-time college athletics to fund his program. Some on here even suggest that Iowa share it's P2 revenue to help fund ISC. It seems the State is always intervening to help elevate ISU to Iowa's level....from financial help to legislation (or threatened) to see that they play each other every year in a 'rivalry' game that ranks 90th in the country that fans care about. Not many outside Iowa give a rat's a@@ about the iowa-ISU game. Most revenue comes from inside Iowa. And then Pollard claims 'if Iowa cares about athletics, they'll help us or we'll lose it forever' (paraphrased). Pathetic.
But here's the truth...If the State tries to prop up ISU when they can't manage it on their own, it ends up hurting Iowa in the long run and curtails possible growth from them. You want Iowa and ISU to both be P2, then they'll both end up at the very bottom and ultimately be forced to withdraw from that level. Then see what happens to athletics in the entire State. Iowa will lose track, field hockey, baseball, etc b/c of lack of $ and exposure. ISU has already lost their baseball and wrestling is a shadow of what it was b/c the emphasis has been placed on FB and MBB at the expense of the rest of their programs except golf apparently. Money from big-names coming to the state will hurt local economies.
You can't risk hurting one to save the other and in the end hurting both.
Imagine telling Iowa fans they have to fund ISU to keep them afloat—like we owe our little brother lunch money for life. It’s pathetic. If your program exists because of Hawkeye wallets, you’re not a rival—you’re a dependent. Clown fans should be embarrassed. This isn’t support—it’s welfare.
I’ll say this—over at ClownFanatic HQ, the meltdown is in full swing. The thread reads like a group therapy session for people obsessed with a school they swear they don’t care about. Ninety-five percent of the comments mention Iowa, as if blaming the Hawkeyes will patch their $147 million crater. They're talking about forcing Iowa to subsidize their flailing program, slapping a tariff on Kirk’s salary—what’s next, reparations for being irrelevant?
It's a full-on jealousy spiral. They hate us, resent us, need us—and none of it is our fault. Watching their panic is like watching a bitter ex spiral when you’re doing just fine without them.
It's a full-on jealousy spiral. They hate us, resent us, need us—and none of it is our fault. Watching their panic is like watching a bitter ex spiral when you’re doing just fine without them.
Reparations are part of the settlement in addition to the $20.5M salary max. Schools have to pay athletes going back so many years, not sure how many tho.
Yes. In essence, Iowa will be paying ISU’s athletes too — because nothing screams “healthy rivalry” like full-blown Cyclone jealousy dressed up as equity. This is Fatal Attraction in Ames: “We won’t be ignored, Kirk!” So they boil the bunny, stall their own programs, and try to stick Hawkeye Nation with the bill — all because deep down, they know they’ll never be us. So burn it all.
Gotta feel bad for Clown U both now and for their future.
It is time they drop to FCS.
The story from the Gazette:
Facing $147M deficit, ISU Athletics halts Hilton Coliseum renovation, ups Ticket Prices
Vanessa Miller
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Jul. 24, 2025
AMES — Iowa State University Athletics — facing a $147 million budget deficit through 2031, or just under $25 million annually over the next six years — is rolling out painful concessions, including indefinitely postponing construction of a new wrestling practice facility and a $25 million Hilton Coliseum renovation.
“In the past two years, there have been several transformational changes in college athletics that will result in $30 million in recurring annual financial repercussions to the athletics department beginning this year,” ISU athletics reported in its 2026 budget report to the Board of Regents, made public this week.
Although it has identified about $8.7 million in annual budget savings, the cumulative $24.5 million annual funding gap is expected to culminate in a $147 million net deficit by 2031 — putting the Cyclones in an all-hands-on-deck situation.
“ISU is engaging with the Big 12 Conference, ISU Foundation, sponsors, donors and other partners to explore additional opportunities to create growth in revenue sufficient to overcome future anticipated revenue shortfalls and to otherwise support the continued success and viability of the ISU athletics program,” department officials reported.
“ISU views this effort as one of the top priorities and challenges facing the university.”
Changes threatening ISU Athletics include realignment of the Big 12 Conference from 10 to 16 teams; the House vs. NCAA settlement allowing revenue sharing with student athletes; and adjustment of the distribution model for College Football Playoff revenue, which Iowa State reports as “negatively impacting the Big 12 Conference.”
Given the challenges, Iowa State told the board it has made several tough budget decisions, including:
- Indefinitely postponing construction of a planned $20 million wrestling practice facility and a $25 million Hilton Coliseum renovation;
- No longer absorbing the cost of sales tax on tickets and instead passing on that expense — about $1.5 million annually — to consumers;
- Upping annual required donation levels for membership in the Cyclone Club by 20 percent — generating an estimated $3 million annually.
- And mandating all sports and support units cut costs and find savings “to slow the growth of overall expenses.”
“The most significant savings have resulted from reducing travel costs for Olympic sports,” athletics officials reported.
The landmark NCAA vs. House settlement threatening Iowa State took effect July 1, allowing college athletics programs going forward to directly compensate student athletes for their name, image, and likeness.
The deal allows schools to start sharing revenue with players up to an annual cap of $20.5 million in the current 2026 budget year — with the cap increasing about 4 percent, or $1 million, annually through 2035, according to media reports and trade publications.
“Historically, (ISU) Athletics operated as a self-sufficient operation transferring the funds necessary to cover operating costs in the current fiscal year,” according to the board report. “Prior to FY 2025, under the current administration, ISU Athletics had not incurred an operating deficit other than the COVID impacted season, which was absorbed by cash reserves.”
The 2026 budget needed a one-time $26.7 million transfer from the ISU Foundation to remain balanced.
“Going forward the cash reserves for athletics within the Foundation will not be sufficient to cover an operating deficit for FY 2027 and beyond,” ISU officials report.
Breaking down specific line items, Iowa State is expecting NCAA and conference revenue to drop $2.2 million this year — largely due to the House settlement and the NCAA’s need to absorb the costs, “thereby reducing the net revenues available to distribution to member schools.”
Given the increase in expenses, the total budget is projected to increase 24 percent to $141.1 million.
“Football travel expense will increase as the football program plays a total of six road games this season compared to five in the prior season,” officials reported, noting, “ISU was invited to lead off the college football season in Ireland for one of the road games due to recent competitive success.”
UI, UNI Athletics
The University of Iowa Department of Athletics also calculated in a $20.5 million expense increase due to the NCAA revenue-sharing arrangement — bringing its total budget for fiscal 2026 to $169.6 million.
“The budget increase largely correlates to revenue sharing with student-athletes,” UI officials reported to the board.
But unlike Iowa State, UI Athletics is anticipating a 10 percent increase in Big Ten Conference revenue — reaching a record $82.7 million — thanks to a renegotiated television contract.
“Most primary revenue sources are anticipated to increase in FY 2026,” officials said.
UI Athletics again this year committed $2.5 million toward repayment of a $50 million loan from the main campus to quell the department’s losses during COVID.
And University of Northern Iowa Athletics — which is not self-supporting like the other public universities — did not budget the optional revenue sharing with student athletes.
“Since UNI Athletics does not receive substantial revenues from conference distributions and other sources, and similar to other comparable universities, the university provides athletic support for scholarships and operations,” officials reported.
That figure is budgeted to increase from $5 million in fiscal 2025 to $5.4 million.
Facing $147M deficit, ISU Athletics halts Hilton Coliseum renovation, upping ticket prices
AMES — Iowa State University Athletics — facing a $147 million budget deficit through 2031, or just under $25 million annually over the next six years — is rolling outwww.thegazette.com
Don't get all giddy. That was a covid deal, and EVERYBODY had cost issues with no fan revenue to speak of. THE University of Iowa athletic dept has been paying their own way for sometime now even paying excess back to the University some years. I know it galls you that Iowa is taking in 80-100 million dollars a year for the remainder of the TV contract. Your tears are sweet by the way.....
Lololol... Braska is our B----, scoreboard every year......
Nebraska has been bending over for Iowa the last decade. It only hurts the school being reamed.
I do not at all share the hate for ISU. I like having worthy rivals in football, basketball, wrestling. In general, the level of spending on college athletics is just plain stupid.
Reality can be stupid. Doesn't mean it's not real.
I would agree. You don't have to like ISU to realize that squeezing traditional schools out of major college sports is an elitist act. ISU and similar schools deserve to exist and to compete.
Clown U has the cash reserves for this upcoming year's deficit.
But where are they going to come up with the annual $25M short fall? (and that number will continue to grow each year) It better not be from taxpayers....
Last edited:
And they can and will, just at a lower level and less revenue.
They simply will not be able to compensate their athletes at the max # of 20.5 million....drop it to .5 million and shave 20 million off that deficit.
That's the free market at work,eh?
Yes since last thread about them was posted on 7/11 15 days ago in reference to their former golden boy crapping all over them talking about how he regretting being hired there. Yeah great comparison….
It’s almost like same obsessive nature of going through multiple threads on another schools boards constantly posting laughing emojis to every post, or creating username after username because other ones keeps being banned and continually using juvenile nicknames even a 3rd grader wouldn’t find funny. You mean that kind of obsession? Pot meet kettle….
Oh no no, don’t get it twisted—nobody said they wouldn’t exist. That’s ridiculous. Of course they’ll exist. They’ll just exist exactly how the market sees them: as a perfectly average team with perfectly regional interest. You know… MAC-level vibes. It’s not extinction—it’s just a gentle relocation to where they’ve always belonged
it really makes you wonder where they will come up with $25M per year that they are short. there's only so much cutting they can do and fans can only donate so much.
did you see that Texas Tech is #2 in the country in what they are paying players (NIL + Revenue Sharing)?
No shock you are replying on a Saturday night. Obsessed much?
They have the greatest fans, the greatest coaches, the greatest athletic director, the greatest turf field, etc. All that greatness should be good for $25 million.
Iowa fans gloat, oblivious to where this road ends. I hear fans surmise that it will just lead to two major players, the SEC and the Big Ten.
What happens when the power brokers want just one league and endeavor to merge the best of the two conferences. Anyone who thinks Iowa makes that cut is living in lala land.
It would behoove everyone to advocate for a model that doesn’t allow schools like ISU to close up shop.
What happens when the power brokers want just one league and endeavor to merge the best of the two conferences. Anyone who thinks Iowa makes that cut is living in lala land.
It would behoove everyone to advocate for a model that doesn’t allow schools like ISU to close up shop.
Iowa ranks 20th in value in all of college football we are part of the show. If ISU drops to FCS Iowa dramatically icreases in value after 5-10 years being the only show in town. College football program valuations: Ranking every Power 4 team by how much they’d sell for - The Athletic https://share.google/ALQF6lu5fDHQsF5H1
Last edited:
In the 130-year history of the Big Ten no school, not one, has ever been permanently kicked out. The University of Chicago dropped out on the athletic side in 1940 or so, but are still a highly respected school in the conference's academic consortium. Schools in that consortium receive far more funding in research dollars than in athletics.
Nobody is leaving the Big Ten unless, like Chicago, it is their choice to do so.