Report Reveals Scope of Missouri State Athletics Spending

New data shows that the athletics budget number Missouri State University has been citing underplays the true scope of its sports spending.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the university had been citing a $16.1 million athletics budget number. But a new way of reporting athletics expenses to the NCAA boosts the figure to $25.2 million for the 2014-2015 school year.

The multimillion dollar discrepancy stems from sports-related expenses, mostly facilities and administrative support, that Missouri State didn't include in the athletics department budget. For a decade, the university also left out those costs and related sources of revenue, such as various student fees, when filing annual reports with the NCAA.

Updated reporting rules took effect at the beginning of this year.