How FSU is preparing to manage increased cost of college athletics

TL;DR

Florida State University projects to spend over $250 million on athletics by the 2027 fiscal year, marking a $40 million increase from 2025. This rise in budget reflects the growing operational costs for competitive collegiate programs.

Key points

FSU projects over $250 million budget for athletics by 2027
Budget increase of over $40 million from 2025
FSU reported over $208 million in operating expenses in 2025
Revealed by Athletic Director Michael Alford
Rising costs for competitive collegiate athletics

Mentioned in this story

Florida State UniversityMichael Alford

How FSU is preparing to manage increased cost of college athletics

Florida State athletics is projected to spend over $250 million by the 2027 fiscal year as the operational cost for major collegiate athletics continues to rise for programs seeking to compete among the nation's best.

The projected $250 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year was revealed in a PowerPoint shared by FSU Athletic Director Michael Alford at the university's annual Board of Trustees retreat on April 14, and obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.

The budget will be over $40 million higher than the Seminoles' spending in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the presentation shared by Alford. According to the program's 2025 annual revenue and expense report, FSU reported $208,187,039 in operating expenses in the most recent fiscal year, the first time the program has eclipsed the $200 million threshold.

Spending will continue to increase year over year, namely due to universities being allowed, but not required, to share up to $22.5 million in revenue with student athletes, and other operational costs, which are expected to continue to increase.

That $22.5 million revenue-sharing bill is currently footed by auxiliary funding, which will be the case for FSU until 2028 after the Florida Board of Governors approved its use in 2025.

It's a reprieve, but it currently keeps the Seminoles from making cuts to athletic programs, something that universities, including some Power 4's across the country, have had to do to finance revenue sharing.

The most recent example of a Power 4 program having to make cuts came from Arkansas, which cut the program's tennis teams just days before the men's tennis team earned an NCAA Tournament bid. While the Seminoles haven't made cuts, any potential axing of programs could save over $4 million, according to projections in the presentation.