Story by (Photo by ; Illustration by Sportico)Daniel LibitWed, January 21, 2026 at 2:32 AM UTC·2 min readThe University of Colorado reported $24 million of football ticket revenue for 2024-25, according to its latest NCAA financial disclosures—a 23% year-over-year decline in the second season of head coach Deion Sanders, despite improved on-field results from his debut year in Boulder. The Buffaloes finished 9-4, capped by a loss in the Alamo Bowl, and averaged 52,514 fans across six home games. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore from Sportico. comNobody Could Beat Indiana-but Anyone With Cash Could Be NextClub Sportico: Saturdays Are for the Biggest BoysTrinidad Chambliss Sues NCAA in Test of Medical Waiver SystemBy comparison, Colorado reported $31.2 million in football ticket sales for 2023-24, a season in which CU went 4-8 and finished last in the Pac-12. That campaign set a program attendance record, averaging 53,180 fans per home game, up 24% from the prior year. Football operating expenses rose from $38.5 million in FY24 to $42.8 million in FY25, while total football operating revenues increased from $65.7 million to $69.3 million. CU paid $14.4 million to its football coaches last fiscal cycle, up from $12.5 million. After losing key players to the NFL—including quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter—CU slid to a 3-8 record this past season, with home game average attendance slipping slightly to 50,469. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOverall, Colorado reported total athletics operating revenues of $161.7 million in FY25, up from $146.6 million the year before, although some of that increase owes to the way the NCAA Member Financial Reporting System counts certain line items, such as contributions.