The college tennis world is reeling after a devastating week that saw four Division I programs announce their permanent closure—leaving players, coaches, and fans in shock.

Just last week, the University of Arkansas revealed it would discontinue both its men's and women's tennis programs, despite the men's team qualifying for this year's NCAA Division I tournament. When their season ends, it won't just be seniors saying goodbye—it will be the end of Razorbacks tennis entirely.

"The whole college tennis community is in shock," said David Mullins, CEO of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. "When you see an SEC program with such great wealth, tradition, and amazing facilities eliminated, it strikes fear in every coach across the country."

Arkansas wasn't alone. Within the same week, Saint Louis University announced it would cut both its men's and women's teams, Illinois State dropped men's tennis, and the University of North Dakota eliminated both programs. These moves are part of a growing trend: during the 2025–26 season, 21 NCAA tennis programs have been eliminated—nine at the Division I level, according to ITA data. Only one D-I school, Iona, has committed to adding tennis in the future.

So what's driving these cuts? Administrators point to rising costs across Division I athletic departments, largely fueled by the upcoming House v. NCAA settlement. This landmark agreement allows schools to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with athletes and offer more scholarships across all sports. Power conference schools are required to participate, while others—including Arkansas and the three other schools that cut tennis this week—have opted in, adding financial pressure that many say makes non-revenue sports unsustainable.

For college tennis, this isn't just a rough patch—it's a potential crisis. As more schools face tough budget decisions, the sport's future at the highest level hangs in the balance, leaving athletes and coaches wondering which program might be next.