Michigan #3 nationally on food spending for student athletes

Top 20 Biggest Spenders on Student-Athlete Meals

1. University of Arkansas: $3.5 million
2. Ohio State University: $3.1 million
3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: $2.8 million
4. University of Iowa: $2.8 million
5. Texas A&M University, College Station: $2.7 million
6. University of Texas, Austin: $2.6 million
7. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: $2.5 million
8. University of Kansas: $2.2 million
9. University of Tennessee, Knoxville: $1.9 million
10. University of Washington, Seattle: $1.9 million
11. University of Georgia: $1.7 million
12. University of Oklahoma, Norman: $1.7 million
13. University of Maryland, College Park: $1.7 million
14. Auburn University: $1.5 million
15. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: $1.5 million
16. Pennsylvania State University: $1.4 million
17. Virginia Tech: $1.4 million
18. University of Louisville: $1.4 million
19. University of Oregon: $1.3 million
20. Indiana University, Bloomington: $1.3 million

Unlike some of their classmates, who stick to three main food groups - instant noodles, cold cereal and dining hall French fries - Division I athletes generally adhere to a strategic meal plan to ensure top-end performance on the field and for training. Prominent athletic programs are now investing in what their student-athletes put in their bodies in the form of millions of dollars.

Totaling more than $7 million dollars in 2016-17—the two most recent years that reports are available from most programs—the University of Arkansas spent the most of any public school on student-athlete meals. Housed in the new $23 million, 55,000-square-foot Jerry & Gene Jones Family Student-Athlete Success Center, Arkansas’ sports nutrition department spares no expense in feeding its athletes. Members of any sports team, even those not on scholarship, are provided two meals a day, in an effort to “fuel and refuel” the athletes.

Arkansas is not the only school focused on food. More than two dozen other programs spent more than $2 million in the two-year period, with Ohio State University, University of Michigan, University of Iowa and Texas A&M University rounding out the top five of the highest spending programs (full list below). While dishing out the big bucks on dining may have no immediate financial benefit to a school, in fact it costs more, well-fueled athletes have a certain advantage when competing, bolstering the program’s reputation as a result. And that translates to best-in-class recruitment and even higher ticket sales.

Source:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2019/07/09/6800-gallons-of-milk-and-2120-pounds-of-beef-jerky-behind-d1-college-athlete-diets-and-spending/#7a91e6c754e1