Latest NCAA Report Shows Gap Between Haves and Have-nots

The divide between the haves and have-nots is increasing, expense growth is outpacing revenue growth, donors are still the largest source of revenue for most programs, and sports outside of football and men's basketball aren't generating enough revenue to cover expenses. That's the short version of what the NCAA's latest revenue and expense report tells us.

Here are some points worth noting:

Football and men's basketball continue to be the two sports athletic departments have to rely upon to drive the department's revenue. Overall, 50 to 60 percent of FBS football and men's basketball programs have reported a surplus in each of the past nine years.

Meanwhile, no sport outside of football or men's basketball has a median that falls on the positive side of the scale when you subtract expenses from revenue. I'm always asked if baseball and ice hockey programs make money, and there are a handful that do each year, but overall they lose money too. The median baseball program loses $733,000, while the median ice hockey program loses $511,000. Losses at the median on the men's side range from $40,000 for rifle to the $733,000 for baseball.

Just one women's basketball program reported revenue exceeding expenses this year, which matches last year. Overall, the median for women's sports shows losses that range from $35,000 for bowling to $1.5 million for basketball.

It's tough to imagine what these numbers will look like if the O'Bannon decision stands and is implemented. Although revenue numbers should rise as television deals grow, and conference networks add to the bottom line in several conferences, the expense side could be impacted mightily by O'Bannon. That impact is multiplied if Title IX does indeed require athletic departments to institute stipends, and possibly trust funds, for all student athletes.

Kristi A. Dosh is a sports business reporter, attorney and author of a book on the business of college football, Saturday Millionaires.