Tyler Reporter

Smith County's three colleges invested $1,289,349 on their football teams in 2023, an increase in funding from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

This represents 8.8% of all money invested on sport teams at the three colleges in the county during 2023.

The average sports expenses at Smith County have grown 175% since 2010.

Tyler Junior College stood out as the university in Smith County which received the most football funding during 2023. The institution received $949,523 — or 73.6% of all the money destined to football teams.

College football is one of the biggest sports in the U.S., with some college teams eclipsing NFL teams in terms of attendance and profit.

In 2022, after a decades-long fight, student athletes nationwide gained the right to profit from their names, likenesses, and images as a result of a flurry of new state laws and an NCAA policy change.

Year	Football Team's Expenditures	% from grand total sport team expenditures
2023	$1,289,349	8.8%
2022	$1,235,078	9.3%
2021	$778,858	7.7%
2020	$1,053,967	9.3%
2019	$1,048,353	11.2%