Wilson: Losing Game Vs Minnesota “Devastating To Budget”

The potential for Tennessee Tech’s Athletic Department to lose a guaranteed revenue football game?

“That would be devastating to Tennessee Tech’s budget,” Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson said. “We rely on guarantee games for football and men’s basketball to enhance our budgets.”

The Golden Eagles are scheduled to play Minnesota September 12. The Big Ten school will pay Tennessee Tech an undisclosed amount for the football game. These guaranteed games can often mean as much as $1 million in revenue for the school.

NCAA statistics show the games can make up as much as 15 percent of a smaller school’s budget.

No one knows how many college football games will be played this fall because of COVID-19. One scenario being contemplated would be eliminating non-conference games in an effort to salvage conference games. This would assist schools in limiting travel. It might also allow schools to play more regional opponents where states might have more similar COVID-19 conditions.

Right now, it is a waiting game. But Wilson understands the budget implications.

“Financially, if we don’t play, the big hit for us the the guarantee game against Minnesota,” Wilson said. “That’s where we generate the most revenue with our football program. If you can’t play guarantee games, there is no way to make up the revenue in that current fiscal year. It would take budget reductions to cover the lost or reduced revenue.”

Guaranteed revenue games have long been lucrative to smaller schools. Both Alabama and Auburn paid over $4 million dollars each in guaranteed money in 2019.

Wilson said despite there being many questions in regard to having a football season this fall, he is optimistic the Golden Eagles will be on the gridiron come September.

“I am hopeful there will be a football season,” Wilson said. “I think at this point in time, that is all we can do. We can be hopeful for having a sense of what the new normal is. I am hopeful that Tennessee Tech will reopen and have students on campus and be able to provide them a great education.”

Minnesota and Tennessee Tech agreed to their first-ever meeting in 2018.