{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"January 23, 2026 - Erik Judson (The Business of UK - Episode 004)","description":" LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 23, 2026) \u2013 The business of college athletics is at an inflection point, and leaders across higher education are grappling with a new reality: rising costs, shifting rules and a model many say can\u2019t hold. On this week\u2019s episode of \u2018Behind the Blue,\u2019 UK\u2019s Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Eric Monday continues our Business of UK series with guest Erik Judson, founder and CEO of JMI Sports, for a wide-ranging conversation about the changing economics of college sports.  Judson, who has spent three decades in the business of sports, says the current landscape has moved from one of the most regulated systems to one that now feels chaotic and inconsistent. \u201cAs we sit here today, it's absolutely not sustainable,\u201d Judson said, adding that the rapid shift has made it difficult for institutions to keep up with mounting, often unfunded, costs.  Those pressures include new financial obligations tied to the House settlement, expanded scholarships, increased spending around name, image and likeness (NIL), and escalating salaries across athletic departments \u2014 from coaching staff to the broader operational ecosystem.  In response, Judson argues athletic departments must become more disciplined and business-minded \u2014 not by changing the student-athlete experience, but by professionalizing the way programs generate revenue and manage expenses. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a revenue problem, it\u2019s a cost problem,\u201d he said.  A key theme of the discussion is the need for clearer rules and enforceable standards. Judson calls for \u201cguardrails\u201d to reduce uncertainty across the sport \u2014 ideally with help from Congress \u2014 so schools can compete in a system everyone understands and is expected to follow.  Judson also points to creative policy options that could discourage runaway spending while preserving competitive opportunity \u2014 including the idea of a luxury tax model that penalizes programs that far exceed agreed-upon limits.  Despite the turbulence, Judson ends on an optimistic note: the passion that fuels college sports \u2014 among fans, communities and stakeholders \u2014 can also drive the momentum needed to build a healthier, more stable future. Listeners are encouraged to submit questions and ideas for future Business of UK episodes by emailing businessofUK@uky.edu. Upcoming installments will focus on the university\u2019s $8.7 billion enterprise budget, how it is structured, and how resources are allocated across education, research, health care and service throughout the Commonwealth. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK\u2019s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for this or other episodes of \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 can be downloaded from the show\u2019s blog page.   ","author_name":"Behind the Blue","author_url":"http:\/\/behindtheblue.libsyn.com\/podcast","html":"