Pay to play

BIg-time college athletic programs are big business fueled by revenue-generating football and men's basketball programs. Revenues pay for coach and staff salaries, facility improvements and player expenses -- including possible new compensation considerations.

What the schools get

Average revenue generated by Football Bowl Subdivision football teams.

2004

$8,289,000

2012

$18,582,000

Across all sports

U of U total revenue

2005

$25,506,145

2013

$46,855,283

USU total revenue

2005

$10,965,546

2013

$23,684,266

BYU total revenue

2013

$54,644,578

Sources: NCAA, USA Today

What the players get

Football Bowl Subdivision schools student-athlete/non-athlete student spending, 2010.

$91,936
median cost per student-athlete

$74,264
Mountain West Conference student-athlete

13,628 median cost per non-athlete

U of U expenses

27,443 per football player

USU expenses

$11,525 per football player

BYU expenses

$16,600 per football player

So-called "operating expenses" for each player — taking coach salaries, student aid and recruiting expenses out of the equation, 2012-13.

Sources: Delta Cost Project, U.S. Department of Education

What the coaches get

Roughly 35 percent of revenue from sports goes to compensation.

U. of U. coaching and staff pay

2005

$7,324,766

2013

$18,967,388

USU coaching and staff pay

2005

$3,970,289

2013

$7,668,171

BYU coaching pay

2013

$7,654,326

Note: Staff pay is not indicated for BYU

Sources: USA Today