The University of Colorado athletics department faces an existential challenge — one shared by many other schools around the country that support and promote major college athletics.

A department that’s operated at a deficit for five of the last seven reported fiscal years must now find an extra $20.5 million in 2025-26. Then the Buffs have to do it again every year after that, at annual increases of 4%, until that number grows to roughly $33 million in 2035.

The new expense is a direct result of what’s known as the House settlement — an agreement that permits NCAA member institutions to pay athletes directly for their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights starting this fiscal year.

Schools can either opt into the agreement and begin paying athletes, as both CU and Colorado State Univer

See Full Page