First google responsehttp://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2008-05-16-financial-study_N.htm67 out of 119 make an average profit of 8.8 million. The 52 that lost money lost an average of 2.2 million. You can quibble a bit about what is include as expenses (stadium depreciation?) and revenue (alumni donations, concession sales, parking, TV?) but as a whole (all schools) football brings money in.If you have a reputable article refuting this, feel free to post it.
Reliant Aries wrote:
Incredibly doubtful. Show me the numbers and their sources.
kevin malone wrote:People are having a hard time with "profitable football team" vs. "profitable athletic department." Only a handful of athletic departments are profitable. However, many, many more football teams bring in more revenue than expenses. Not all, of course, and when you're talking about D-IAA and D-II you're probably not talking any profit at all. But many D-I football teams do help support other sports at their institutions.