West Central Reporter

McDonough County spent $2,688,848 on men's collegiate football teams in 2023, a decrease of 13.4% from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

This translates to roughly 32.9% of all spending for sports teams at the Western Illinois University, the only institution in the county during the 2023 season.

The average sports expenses at McDonough County have dropped 18.3% since 2010.

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	$2,688,848	32.9%
2022	$3,104,498	26.6%
2021	$2,688,848	25.1%
2020	$3,029,020	26.9%
2019	$3,100,811	26.1%