Inside the numbers in the new Pac-12: Where Fresno State ranks, where it counts

Fresno State is one day closer to joining a rebuilding Pac-12 on July 1 and, though still well behind many of its soon-to-be conference rivals in football investment, it is closer to the top and to the league average when factoring in only program-related spending.

Colorado State, as an example, led the Pac-12 in 2025 football operating expenses, according to the revenue and expense reports the schools submitted to the NCAA.

It reported $37.8 million in football operating expenses, a hefty number for a Group of Six conference program. But that includes $13.5 million in facilities debt service, leases and rental fees and $2.3 million in facilities maintenance and operations. The Rams also spent $4.7 million on football scholarships, highest among the Pac-12 schools, and $3.4 million on game day expenses including officials, security and event and medical staff.

On coaching and staff salaries, recruiting, team travel and uniforms, equipment and supplies, Colorado State invested $13.7 million.

Fresno State without question is in a catch-up mode, which could impact its ability to retain coaches and remain competitive in the Pac-12. But the picture looks much different and much less daunting for when counting program-related expenses, and even modest investment could better position the Bulldogs in the new Pac-12.

Here are total football operating expenses, as reported to the NCAA:

Colorado State — $37,791,844

Boise State — $30,738,142

Texas State — $23,116,059

Oregon State — $23,847,864

Washington State — $22,896,017

San Diego State — $22,274,018

Utah State — $22,101,735

Fresno State — $17,970,586

Pac-12 average — $25,092,033

Here are program expenses, minus line items including facilities debt service and maintenance, and scholarship costs, which obviously vary from school to school. Tuition at Colorado State is significantly higher than at Fresno State and about 85% of the Rams’ players are from outside the state, which increases scholarship costs.

Boise State — $21,471,455

Washington State — $17,465,318

Oregon State — $17,455,298

Utah State — $16,864,771

Colorado State — $13.669,762

San Diego State — $14,249,657

Fresno State — $12,776,610

Texas State — $12,419,945

Pac-12 average — $15,796,602

Fresno State, while closer to its Pac-12 rivals, still is teetering in a tenuous area competitively.

Coach Matt Entz is the lowest paid coach in a conference that includes two first-time, first year head coaches in Kirby Moore at Washington State and JaMarcus Shephard at Oregon State, and his base salary would rank only fifth if the Bulldogs were still in the Mountain West. Entz led the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record in his first season, and has a career record of 69-15 including five seasons at North Dakota State.

The Bulldogs’ salary pools for assistant coaches and support staff also are among the lowest in the Pac-12.

“We’re growing, but we have to grow faster,” Entz told the Fresno Bee last month. “It’s going to get harder and harder (to retain coaches). That’s what winning does.

“There are a number of things that we need to continue to address and work with our administration on. How can we continue to upgrade facilities? How can we continue to impact revenue sharing? And then, the operational dollars, including salaries and budget. How do we make that bucket bigger?”

Increased ticket and sport-specific donation revenue and other new revenue streams could make a big difference, as the Bulldogs move into the Pac-12.

From a football operating revenue standpoint, Fresno State ranks sixth among the new Pac-12, reporting $16.8 million. Boise State is at the top of the conference at $57.5 million, with sport-specific donations accounting for a healthy chunk of that at $15.6 million.