Increased funding for college athletics a dangerous path

According to the Albuquerque Journal a recent legislative hearing saw the athletic directors of both UNM and NMSU team up in order to plead to the Legislature for more funding for athletics. As RGF discussed with KOAT Channel 7 during the recent 2025 legislative session which saw introduction of SB 268 which would have handed an additional $1.5 million to the athletic departments of each school, this is a bad idea.

Yes, the economics of college sports are changing and changing fast with universities now paying NIL money to players up to $20.5 million annually.

UNM and NMSU also face the challenge of raising money in a state with a small number of big companies that would potentially put up that kind of cash on an annual basis.

Higher education in New Mexico is already VERY generously subsidized by New Mexico taxpayers. In 2024 according to State Higher Education Finance New Mexico spent a massive $18,754 per full time student. The U.S. average was $11,683.

How much will New Mexico’s taxpayers have to spend in order to make UNM and NMSU “competitive” financially with other schools? That is an open question that is impossible to answer. Simply put, we don’t want to find out because it could be a lot.