Small-Budget Success: The Houston Cougars Are Making History
According to financial information reported to the Department of Education , in 2014 the Houston Cougars spent $11.3 million on football. That was easily the most in team history – Houston had never before spent more than $9.4 million – and yet was still less than nearly two-thirds of all FBS teams spent that year. Last year’s spending data is not yet available, but while Houston’s expenses will likely have increased because of costs associated with the trip to the Peach Bowl, they will still pale in comparison to the budgets of most Power Five programs. The average top-ten team spends nearly $30 million annually on football, and aside from Houston none of those currently in the top ten spent less than $20 million two seasons ago.