COLUMBIA — South Carolina athletics had its biggest surplus in six years, making $1.3 million in fiscal year 2025 even though the football program's profit dropped by $10.1 million.

It was South Carolina's largest surplus since 2019, when the athletics department made $3.8 million.

According to documents obtained by The Greenville News, South Carolina's financial report shows total revenue of $204,566,524 and total expenses of $203,259,302 in fiscal year 2025, which runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

In fiscal year 2024, South Carolina athletics lost $194,175.

In fiscal year 2025, athletics spent $19.6 million more than 2024 but had $21.1 million more in revenue.

University of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.University of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.University of South Carolina football renovations March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.University of South Carolina football renovations March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.University of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.1 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.1 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.2 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.3 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.4 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.5 / 5South Carolina football stadium construction, see Williams-Brice renovations in progressUniversity of South Carolina football renovations on March 6, 2026, to Williams-Brice Stadium, a three-phase, $350 million renovation project titled "Williams-Brice Reimagined," which began immediately following the final 2025 home game.South Carolina's athletic department had a surplus of $69,238 in 2023 and deficits of $3.7 million in 2022, $11 million in 2021 and $765,306 in 2020.

A large reason why South Carolina ended with a surplus rather than a deficit was the direct institutional support, which is money given to the athletics department from the university.

In 2025, there was $42.5 million given in direct institutional support, a $16 million increase from the $26.5 million in 2024.

Athletic director Jeremiah Donati started in December 2024, inheriting the budget midway through the fiscal year.

Donati was asked during a South Carolina Senate hearing on Feb. 25 for the reason behind a large change in direct institutional support.

"(The $42.5 million) includes $29.3 million of operational support. The biggest reason for the jump was the transition from the old NIL period," Donati said. "The Gamecock Club, despite having a record year fundraising of over $50 million, the contributions back to the university were down so we anticipated this. This was prior to my time at South Carolina but this was anticipated, this would be a year of transition so this was forecasted."

Donati was also asked what he anticipates the university's direct institutional support will be for fiscal year 2026.

"We anticipated a rise this year but we believe it will be less next year. It's difficult to forecast but we feel very strongly about that, that it will be less next year in FY26 than the past year in FY25," Donati said.

Aside from the money given to the athletic department from the university, the athletic department saw increased revenue in other categories.

This year's largest revenue producer was $44 million in media rights, an increase from $37.8 million. The athletic department also made just over $2.5 million more in ticket sales at $33.3 million.

Revenue from program, novelty, parking and concession sales increased from $7.9 million to $10.3 million.

The categories with the biggest changes in spending were $5.2 million more on coaching salaries, benefits and bonuses paid by the university, $3.7 million more on bonuses and benefits for support staff and $1.8 million more on guarantees.

Game expenses increased by $1.1 million and uniform and equipment spending increased by $789,890.

The South Carolina football program's profit was $10.1 million less than the year before.

Football had $76.5 million in revenue and spent $55.8 million for a profit of $20.7 million in fiscal year 2025, which included the 2024 season. That is coach Shane Beamer's best season so far when the Gamecocks went 9-4.