Bowling Green State University cuts men's cross country, baseball, and tennis programs

Mid-American Conference school cites budget issues as reason for cuts

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) announced on Tuesday that it will be cutting three men's sports programs effective at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. The affected programs are cross country, baseball, and tennis.

The decision was made after a comprehensive review of the university's athletics program and budget. BGSU cited the rising cost of operating athletic programs, declining participation rates in certain sports, and the need to focus resources on other areas of the university as reasons for the cuts.

The cuts will impact 20 student-athletes who are currently members of the three affected teams. BGSU will honor the scholarships of these student-athletes for the remainder of their time at the university and will work with them to find opportunities to continue their athletic careers at other schools if they wish.

BGSU is not the first Mid-American Conference school to cut athletic programs in recent years. In 2020, the University of Akron cut its men's tennis program, and Kent State University cut its men's golf program.

The cuts at BGSU are part of a larger trend in college athletics. In recent years, a number of schools have cut athletic programs, citing budget issues and declining participation rates. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years as the cost of operating athletic programs continues to rise.