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USA Today
an hour ago
- Business
- USA Today
Will Trump cuts to universities affect college sports? 'Touchy topic'
Will Trump cuts to universities affect college sports? 'Touchy topic' As universities face financial cuts from the Trump Administration, college sports tries to find a way to fund huge new expenses . Show Caption Hide Caption Livvy Dunne on NIL and how female athletes can benefit from it Meghan Hall chats with Livvy Dunne about the world of NIL and how she's setting a course for future college athletes to succeed like she did. Sports Seriously Hardly anybody in charge of major college athletics wants to talk about this publicly. It's the Trump effect. Will the Trump administration's plan to defund American universities trickle down to college sports in the form of funding cuts? USA TODAY Sports contacted more than 25 universities and college leadership organizations to ask them about concerns that athletics could be affected at least indirectly by this federal funding uncertainty. Almost all of them dodged the question by not responding at all, or by providing vague, undetailed answers, or by saying they didn't want to talk about it on the record. 'I'm not surprised that nobody wants to talk, particularly at red-state public universities,' said Robert Kelchen, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee. 'It's such a touchy topic right now.' At the same time, many of the same colleges are bracing for another coming financial earthquake after a federal judge recently approved the House vs. NCAA legal settlement. This allowed colleges to start paying their athletes directly for the first time ever, creating a massive new cost of up to $20.5 million per school per year starting July 1, according to the NCAA. Trouble and tension in major college sports Add it all together and tensions have started simmering during a titanic moment in history for higher education and college sports. Expenses are going up in athletic departments while the other side of campus remains anxious about Trump cuts to higher education, such as grants for medical and scientific research. 'There's never been a time in college sports where so many issues have hit at once − both with the squeeze on institutional support and now this brand-new way of doing business in college sports,' said Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. USA TODAY Sports examined how it might affect athletics, why it's a sensitive topic and what some schools are doing about it. How the federal uncertainty trickles down Trump's attempted funding cutbacks at American universities aren't directly related to college sports. They instead largely involve funding for research at these universities, including from the National Institutes of Health, which faces $18 billion in cuts under the Trump administration. But as part of their universities, most athletic departments depend on university financial support to pay the bills. And when universities face funding shortfalls, they have to make decisions about what to cut and where. That's where that institutional support for athletics could get squeezed. Out of 232 Division I public schools tracked by USA TODAY Sports in fiscal year 2023, only 12 athletic departments reported receiving no institutional support from their schools, including from student fees or university transfers. That includes big football schools such as Ohio State, Penn State, Texas and LSU. On the other end of the spectrum, 75 Division I public schools received at least $20 million in university support from their schools in fiscal year 2023, including from student fees. Sixteen received direct institutional support from their schools of more than $20 million, not counting student fees, led by Houston ($39.7 million), California ($36.7 million), Cincinnati ($35.5 million) and Connecticut ($30.2 million). 'As a matter of basic math, less money from any source will constrain any university's ability to make discretionary decisions about how to allocate their finite resources,' said Roger Pielke, emeritus professor at the University of Colorado. 'Something then has to give − either more revenues are needed or some activities must be cut back. If athletics demands more funding (such as for paying athletes) that compounds the issues.' A number of examples have emerged. At the University of Washington In March, the provost at the University of Washington sent out a message outlining the financial risks the university was facing, including state budget shortfalls and the 'unprecedented and rapid policy changes at the federal level.' The provost mentioned possible cutbacks including 'pausing non-essential staff hiring,' limiting faculty hiring and reducing food purchases and other discretionary spending. 'These measures apply to all units that report to the President and Provost, including Athletics,' university spokesman Victor Balta confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. How that applied to athletics isn't clear. The university didn't get into detail about that when asked about it. But the athletic department received $10 million direct institutional support in fiscal 2024. Now the House settlement is also pressuring the Huskies, too, just like all the other schools in major college sports. The Huskies are projecting a $19 million deficit in athletics for fiscal year 2026. Loans will help cover the gap, including $10 million from the Big Ten Conference in the form of a revenue-sharing advance and more from an 'internal loan of institutional funds,' Balta said. 'Rising expenses and back damages related to the House settlement are factors, as are expenses associated with transitioning to the Big Ten Conference,' Balta said. 'UW Athletics did execute required budget reductions and revenue enhancements in their approved FY26 operating budget – they were not held harmless in this exercise related to overall budget concerns.' At Michigan State This is happening to different degrees at other universities, too, each dealing with it in different ways. At Michigan State, for example, President Kevin Guskiewicz sent a message to faculty and staff fin May, noting financial challenges that included navigating 'federal policies and directives that undercut our ability to advance our land-grant mission and continue essential research projects that make life better.' A subsequent memo went to university leaders calling for a 9% base reduction in university-wide general funds over the next two years. Asked if that included MSU athletics, university spokeswoman Amber McCann replied, 'The reductions are to general funds across the university.' Additional details were not provided. MSU athletics received less than $650,000 in direct institutional support in fiscal 2024 and $3.6 million in indirect institutional support in the form of costs covered by the university but not charged to athletics. MSU athletics also reported an annual operating deficit of $16.7 million for fiscal 2024. But even at the small number of schools that provide little or no institutional support for athletics, disharmony can increase across campus if athletic departments are insulated from university budget cuts. Take Nebraska, for example. Is athletics 'sharing the pain?' The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on June 19 approved a 5% tuition increase amid financial challenges that included less state funding than they asked for and an estimated federal funding reduction of nearly $12 million. The new budget included $18 million in cuts and no funding for pay increases for university staff. But over in the athletic department, football coach Matt Rhule is set to get a $1 million pay increase this year, then another $1 million more in 2026, according to the terms of his contract. Athletic director Troy Dannen is set for a $100,000 annual raise. The athletic department didn't respond to an inquiry about it. 'There is a feeling that the athletic department should be sharing the pain,' said Jordan Gonzales, president of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Staff Senate. Nebraska is one of the relatively few schools in the nation that reported receiving no university support for athletics in fiscal 2023. Even so, any immunity from university austerity measures adds to the perception that athletic departments are becoming increasingly detached from their universities as they move to become more like professional sports. 'When the university asks its core academic support staff to tighten their belts and absorb budget cuts while the athletic department appears to operate under a separate set of financial rules, it fosters a sense of two separate universities − one that's facing austerity and another that is investing in and entering into multimillion deals and contracts,' Gonzales said. Why it's a sensitive subject As the Trump administration targets certain colleges such as Harvard for funding cuts, others are wary of becoming the next target. When resources shrink on campus, discord also intensifies about university priorities and who is or isn't taking on a fair share of the burden. Some colleges might not even want to talk about any cutbacks in sports because now is the time they want to appear flush with cash to pay athletes. Among those that didn't respond to inquiries about federal funding cuts affecting athletics were UCLA, Virginia, Stanford, Minnesota, Houston, Northwestern, Harvard and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. "I think people are laying low," said Ruth Johnston, vice president of consulting at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). "I think people are wanting to wait and see a little bit." In the meantime, the pressure mounts for Division I athletic departments to spend money on players, all the way up to the initial cap of $20.5 million. Not doing so would mean falling behind the competition. 'They need more money right now,' said James Nussbaum, a former Northwestern football player and in-house counsel at Indiana University now at the firm Church Church Hittle + Antrim. 'It's those schools in the middle that are going to be really interesting to watch as they try to figure out if they want to continue to fund athletics at the level they have been as it becomes more and more clear that they're not going to be able to compete with those top-tier schools, just from a resource standpoint.' Where will the money come from? Some athletic departments are getting students to help pay the bills. Some are getting more from their universities. Some might pursue other sources: ∎ The Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida on June 18 granted permission for state universities to give a $22.5 million annual lifeline to athletics through at least June 2028. ∎ At the University of Michigan, athletic director Warde Manuel sent a letter to supporters after the House settlement was approved, saying his department faced a projected deficit of $27 million for the 2025-26 academic year, including $20.5 million for paying players. The letter asked for support and mentioned a planned 10% reduction in staff, in addition to other cost-cutting moves. Spokesman Dave Ablauf said the university also has offered the department a loan of up to $15 million. ∎ Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry recently signed a bill to increase taxes on sports gambling, helping raise more than $20 million to be divided among 11 state universities for athletics, including LSU. Incidentally, LSU athletics is not subject to university cutbacks there because it is considered 'auxiliary' to the university, according to the Louisiana Illuminator in April. LSU didn't respond to a follow-up question about that from USA TODAY Sports. ∎ At the University of Colorado Boulder, the school approved an increase of the student athletic fee from $28.50 to $90 per semester, the first change to this fee since 1994. Funding from it was to support women's sports scholarships and non-revenue sports. ∎ At Virginia Tech, student athletic fees are set to go up by $295 annually, up to $732. ∎ At Wichita State, the university proposed a 3.5% tuition increase, citing the challenging financial landscape for higher education, as well as the House settlement. ∎ At the University of Kansas, Chancellor Douglas Girod told the Lawrence Journal-World that KU athletics possibly could pay the university a reduced tuition rate for its athletes. ∎ Private investment in athletics is on the way. Elevate, a sports strategy and marketing company, recently announced the launch of the Collegiate Investment Initiative to provide colleges with 'capital and strategic resources to develop revenue-generating projects.' What those schools must provide in return for that is not yet clear. Johnston of NACUBO said 'everything is going to be affected' by federal funding cuts at the top, in addition to the big new cost for athletic departments. New sources of funding are needed in the absence of cutbacks. 'It's not gonna go back to normal,' Johnston said. 'I think we' re in an inflection point.' Contributing: Steve Berkowitz Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Livvy Dunne Helps LSU Take Control in Jello Shot Competition
Livvy Dunne Helps LSU Take Control in Jello Shot Competition originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In the Tony award-winning musical Hamilton from 2015, the main character exuberantly proclaimed, "I'm not throwing away my shot!" Advertisement In many ways, this mentality can be used to describe the 2025 LSU Tigers baseball team. This squad is not nearly as dominant as the 2023 Paul Skenes-led national champions but the standard and the goals remain the same. While the team is mostly 'young, scrappy, and hungry,' after last night's win over Arkansas, they most definitely have a shot at glory in Omaha. For Olivia Dunne, there are no off days. The jet-setting LSU alumna was just in Chicago on Friday to see boyfriend Paul pitch against the Cubs. On Saturday, she was in Omaha to watch Skenes' old team take on Arkansas in the College Baseball World Series. Livvy Dunne at Omaha Jell-O shot competitionRocco's Pizza & Cantina Before the game, she was spotted at Rocco's Pizza & Cantina with Raising Cane's Founder and CEO Todd Graves. The famous Omaha establishment has long hosted a spirited Jell-O shot competition among fans of the College World Series participants. Graves paid for thousands of shots during LSU's record-breaking 2023 performance. The battle can get fierce, even too intense at times. Livvy Dunne didn't need to throw hands to make a point. When her school counted on her the most, she squared up to the bar, decked out in a Skenes cutoff Tigers jersey, and rallied the LSU faithful by downing the gelatin-based concoction. Just how many Jello shots Livvy consumed doesn't even matter. Dunne, who has battled many injuries throughout her collegiate gymnastics career, has always put her team and school first. Advertisement Saturday was no different. LSU won on the field and off. The Tigers toppled the third-ranked Razorbacks and at Rocco's, Livvy certainly did not throw away her Jello shot. Related: Livvy Dunne Shares Revealing Swimsuit Photos Related: Livvy Dunne is Officially a Supermodel after Walking the Runway at Miami's Swim Week Related: Livvy Dunne Reveals Her Go-To Fast Food Order Related: Livvy Dunne Shares Revealing Summer Photos Related: Livvy Dunne Shares Her Workout Secrets This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Skenes returns to Omaha for a brief visit to the arena that changed his life
OMAHA, Neb. — In the far corner of the bar, on a Monday afternoon, towered Paul Skenes. He drank only water, yet all around him swirled an intoxicated mayhem, a frenzied hurricane of purple and gold. This was the Men's College World Series in full, drunken bloom: Jell-O shots by the trayful, sticky floors, ball games on big screens, a sea of golf shirts. LSU chants erupted sporadically across the crowd. One particularly well-prepared fan led a cheer with a trumpet. Advertisement At Rocco's, the unofficial hub of Omaha's pregame, midgame and postgame debauchery, the party had already reached a rolling boil. Across the street, Arkansas starter Gage Wood had just tossed the first MCWS no-hitter since 1960, an elimination-game gem to keep his Razorbacks' season alive. Back at Rocco's, the final out elicited cheers and reluctant appreciation from the LSU faithful. Behind a cordoned-off VIP area in the bar's 'Jello Shot Room,' the scene was controlled chaos. Two imposing bodyguards in all black stood watch, keeping the throngs of eager LSU fans from swarming Skenes and his sizable entourage. His über-famous girlfriend, gymnast-turned-social-media-icon Livvy Dunne, posed for photos. Todd Graves, founder of the Raisin' Cane's chicken empire and a prominent LSU booster, held court. Various acolytes sipped brews. Former players mingled. Hangers-on loitered. Off to the side, the Pirates ace chatted quietly with his battery-mate Henry Davis, another MCWS alumnus. Above and apart from it all lingered Skenes. All 6-foot-7 of him. He did not wear purple or yellow or anything that signified his status as LSU royalty. Instead, the 23-year-old was dressed in a charcoal button-down and khakis. It was as if he were trying to blend in, despite knowing full well that he cannot. He is, after all, the most recognizable college baseball player of the 21st century. Two years ago, this was his kingdom. Now, he's just visiting. In 2023, this outpost on the plains played host to Skenes' dazzling ascension to superstardom. That year, he arrived as the best amateur pitcher in the country. He left as a full-blown superstar. In between, he delivered two unforgettable performances, propelling his Tigers to a championship. With that, he went from highly regarded to downright undeniable. That was also the moment after which he was no longer able to live a normal life. Advertisement Much has happened in the two years since Skenes last visited Omaha: No. 1 overall draft pick. Social media influencer girlfriend. Major League Baseball debut. All-Star Game starting pitcher. Rookie of the Year winner. Cy Young finalist. A 1.89 ERA in 38 big-league starts. A future, somehow, still brighter than his past. Today, his autograph is worth hundreds, his presence even more. On Monday, Skenes was taking in the other side of the MCWS, the side he didn't experience during his career — the revelry, the unbridled fandom, the alcohol consumption, the theater of it all. And yet, standing there amongst the merrymaking, across the street from the arena that changed his life, Skenes seemed more observer than participant. His brief return to Omaha was made possible by a quirk of fate. The tournament often draws celebrities into its orbit, but not often do active MLB players have the logistical availability or desire to make an appearance. Skenes' was afforded the chance because his Pirates had a rare road off-day between series in Chicago and Detroit. Once LSU won its opening game Saturday against Arkansas, ensuring a prime-time winners' bracket showdown against UCLA, Skenes was granted a serendipitous opportunity. And so he flew into town on Monday, for less than 24 hours, to watch a ball game, something he hadn't done in years. Advertisement He and his entourage weren't at Rocco's for long. After about an hour, Skenes strolled over to the 'shot board' to update the tallies — LSU currently leads the contest with 7,034 Jell-O shots consumed — then slipped out with his crew. They rode golf carts about a hundred yards or so to the stadium, weaved through its underbelly and filed in right behind home plate just in time for first pitch. It was a relatively low-key showing for the man who once made this place come to life. Skenes (and Dunne) were of course shown on the big board during the game, earning a round of cheers. Once the rain rolled in, delaying the game in the bottom of the third with LSU leading 5-3, he retreated to a box upstairs, where he stayed until the contest was suspended around 10:30 p.m. A gaggle of travel ball kids stood eagerly beneath the suite where Skenes and his fellow LSU teammates gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of the big guy. The entire operation provided Skenes with what must have been an odd, fleeting glimpse of his former life. Not quite a reliving of his good, old days — he's still only 23 and dominating big-league hitters — but a revisiting of sorts. A return to a time and a place that have faded into the past but also endure as a reminder of the glory he's striving for every day.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
UCLA-LSU game at CWS suspended due to rain, will resume Tuesday with Tigers leading 5-3
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The College World Series game between UCLA and LSU was suspended Monday night after steady rain and lightning moved into the Omaha area. The game will resume on Tuesday morning. LSU led 5-3 after three innings when the grounds crew rolled out the tarp as storm clouds moved over Charles Schwab Field. Rain had fallen for about three hours when the NCAA announced the game would resume at 11 a.m. EDT. Advertisement UCLA scored three runs against Anthony Eyanson in the first inning. The Tigers came back to take the lead in the bottom half with Jared Jones hitting a three-run home run off Landon Stump. Jones' team-best 21st homer barely cleared the fence in right-center and put LSU in front 4-3. The Tigers added another run in the third. The UCLA-LSU winner will advance to a bracket final Wednesday. The loser will play Arkansas in an elimination game Tuesday night. More than 20,000 turned out for Monday night's game, which followed Gage Wood's no-hitter in Arkansas' 3-0 win over Murray State. Among fans cheering for LSU were Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes and his influencer girlfriend Livvy Dunne. Skenes was the 2023 Most Outstanding Player when LSU won the national championship. ___ AP college sports:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
UCLA-LSU game at CWS suspended due to rain, will resume Tuesday with Tigers leading 5-3
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The College World Series game between UCLA and LSU was suspended Monday night after steady rain and lightning moved into the Omaha area. The game will resume on Tuesday morning. LSU led 5-3 after three innings when the grounds crew rolled out the tarp as storm clouds moved over Charles Schwab Field. Rain had fallen for about three hours when the NCAA announced the game would resume at 11 a.m. EDT. UCLA scored three runs against Anthony Eyanson in the first inning. The Tigers came back to take the lead in the bottom half with Jared Jones hitting a three-run home run off Landon Stump. Jones' team-best 21st homer barely cleared the fence in right-center and put LSU in front 4-3. The Tigers added another run in the third. The UCLA-LSU winner will advance to a bracket final Wednesday. The loser will play Arkansas in an elimination game Tuesday night. More than 20,000 turned out for Monday night's game, which followed Gage Wood's no-hitter in Arkansas' 3-0 win over Murray State. Among fans cheering for LSU were Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes and his influencer girlfriend Livvy Dunne. Skenes was the 2023 Most Outstanding Player when LSU won the national championship. ___ AP college sports:
