The impact of basketball malfeasance on the university and its rankings

The role of football win percentage on college applications for Power Five and Group of Five schools

“…These results suggest that for Power Five flagship universities, increasing athletic success measured by improved win percentage provides no benefits in terms of increased applications. Previous research (Comier et al., 2023; Eggers et al., 2021), however, found that winning a championship does improve the quantity and quality of students. One interpretation is that incremental improvement of athletic success has no effect on students, but the “all‐or‐nothing success” of winning a national championship, for example, does.…”

“…Caudill et al (2018) found that universities that decide to discontinue their football team experienced a reduction in the number of applications and the quality of students who apply. Comier et al (2023) find that national championship effects are positive: increasing peer rankings, alumni giving, and student academic quality. But at the same time, they find that schools who are sanctioned for athletic malfeasance with a post season bowl ban, also experience an increase in acceptance rate and decrease in academic quality.…”

“…Comier et al. (2023) find that national championship effects are positive: increasing peer rankings, alumni giving, and student academic quality. But at the same time, they find that schools who are sanctioned for athletic malfeasance with a post season bowl ban, also experience an increase in acceptance rate and decrease in academic quality.…”