The Shrinking World of Division I---Why More Schools Will Follow Saint Francis’ Lead
Saint Francis University’s decision to step away from Division I athletics and reclassify to Division III might seem like a one-off move, but it’s actually a signal of a much bigger shift coming. For small schools across the country, the Division I model is no longer sustainable—not financially, and increasingly, not philosophically.
As someone who’s been watching college sports for decades (in particular my Nebraska Cornhuskers), I must admit: the "amateur model" I grew up with is fading fast. And while some of that change was long overdue (like student-athletes having the ability I make money), it’s also brought consequences that are particularly hard on institutions like Saint Francis.
The introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for athletes has opened important new opportunities—but it's also introduced a layer of complexity that disproportionately affects smaller programs. The financial burden of keeping up with NIL infrastructure, transfer incentives, and growing demands for athlete support is pushing smaller Division I schools to the edge. For places that have never brought in major media revenue or packed football stadiums, these shifts feel more like pressure than progress.
Add to that the widening gap in television revenue between the power conferences and everyone else. The Big Ten and SEC schools are cashing in on multi-billion-dollar media deals, while schools in the NEC or MEAC scrape by. The result? A lopsided playing field where competitiveness, and even survival, becomes a question of how big your media market or booster base is—not how well you manage your program.
Saint Francis isn’t the first school to say “enough,” and they won’t be the last. The economics just don’t work anymore. More importantly, some institutions are beginning to ask whether the arms race to stay in Division I aligns with their mission. At what point does pursuing athletic prestige come at the cost of institutional values or long-term financial health?
As the "I" in Division I gets older, I find myself mourning the loss of something simpler—when college sports were less about media rights and more about student-athletes. I'm not naive about business realities, but there's something disheartening in watching the old model slip away entirely.
So yes, Saint Francis is stepping back. But maybe, for them—and for others to follow—it’s really a step forward.
