[PalmTree]

Moreover, the impact of having only 30% of Tier 1 media rights is not all that significant.  That's like a $15M-$20M reduction for 2026, right? And it improves as time goes on.  Plus, I believe Stanford still receives a full share of ACC Network, College Football Playoff (CFP), and NCAA tournament revenues. Unlike Cal, UCLA and many other Power Conference teams, we fully own our own football stadiums and, most importantly, Stanford has a sports-specific endowment of over $1 billion (they stopped publishing the exact amount some time ago, but by my estimate it has to be at least that big now).  The draw on a billion dollar endowment would be $50 million a year.  Other schools don't have that.  We are way ahead before you cut back that Tier 1 media rights revenue.  If Stanford starts cutting sports it won't be because of the tiny amount that the Tier 1 media revenue is reduced.

Looking back at university Budget Books, I think your estimate of the DAPER endowment is pretty close, though I think probably closer to ~$1B range.  Based on DAPER's revenue projections from 2022-25, one sees those endowments are grouped into 3 sets:

1. Financial aid, i.e. scholarships
   
2. "Non Varsity", which seems to cover general DAPER &/or sport-specific operations (so including coaching salries, facilities, etc.) &
   
3. Recreation & wellness, which supports rec programs, club sports, etc.
   

From what I can see, financial aid endowments comprise ~ 70% of total DAPER principal/income - this is not availlable to support NIL, etc..  In fact, DAPER even projected a $6M deficit in financial aid endowment income - projected at $33.2M - vs actual need for 2025, saying they anticipated making up the difference with one-time gifts.  They sure have a number of financial pickles in their barrel.

Anyhow, since financial aid makes up the lion's share of DAPER's endowment portfolio, I'd have to surmise restrictions on how the majority of the remainder of DAPER's endowments can be used doesn't really leave much other endowment income to help offset the drop in media rights revenues. Thinking they need to put their fundraisers on IVs pumping Peet's Major Dickasons....

[PalmTree]

Moreover, the impact of having only 30% of Tier 1 media rights is not all that significant.  That's like a $15M-$20M reduction for 2026, right? And it improves as time goes on.  Plus, I believe Stanford still receives a full share of ACC Network, College Football Playoff (CFP), and NCAA tournament revenues. Unlike Cal, UCLA and many other Power Conference teams, we fully own our own football stadiums and, most importantly, Stanford has a sports-specific endowment of over $1 billion (they stopped publishing the exact amount some time ago, but by my estimate it has to be at least that big now).  The draw on a billion dollar endowment would be $50 million a year.  Other schools don't have that.  We are way ahead before you cut back that Tier 1 media rights revenue.  If Stanford starts cutting sports it won't be because of the tiny amount that the Tier 1 media revenue is reduced.

Looking back at university Budget Books, I think your estimate of the DAPER endowment is pretty close, though I think probably closer to ~$1B range.  Based on DAPER's revenue projections from 2022-25, one sees those endowments are grouped into 3 sets:

1. Financial aid, i.e. scholarships
   
2. "Non Varsity", which seems to cover general DAPER &/or sport-specific operations (so including coaching salries, facilities, etc.) &
   
3. Recreation & wellness, which supports rec programs, club sports, etc.
   

From what I can see, financial aid endowments comprise ~ 70% of total DAPER principal/income - this is not availlable to support NIL, etc..  In fact, DAPER even projected a $6M deficit in financial aid endowment income - projected at $33.2M - vs actual need for 2025, saying they anticipated making up the difference with one-time gifts.  They sure have a number of financial pickles in their barrel.

Anyhow, since financial aid makes up the lion's share of DAPER's endowment portfolio, I'd have to surmise restrictions on how the majority of the remainder of DAPER's endowments can be used doesn't really leave much other endowment income to help offset the drop in media rights revenues. Thinking they need to put their fundraisers on IVs pumping Peet's Major Dickasons....