Rising travel, food costs straining college athletic budgets

By ERIC OLSON and HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writers

College athletic programs of all sizes are reacting to inflation the same way as everyone else. They’re looking for ways to save. Travel and food are the primary areas with increased costs. Schools in major conferences are working with boosters and other partners to try to bridge the financial gap. Arizona estimates it could spend $4 million more across the board this year than it would if the U.S. inflation rate hadn’t risen to more than 8%. Division III Mary Baldwin University in Virginia played exhibitions against Division II teams for a few thousand dollars to pay for basketball shoes.