For an SEC program that’s swimming in football profits, there is nothing more jarring than an underwhelming financial report. Arkansas found itself in a difficult position after its report showed that two sports combined to earn just $247. In response, Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek decided to make a bold move, looking beyond the gridiron to balance books with a dramatic change in strategy.

Hunter Yurachek recently announced that Arkansas will be hosting the Golden Clash on March 28. The game will feature two of the most popular Liga MX teams, Club America and Tigres, who are big-time rivals. This will be the first international soccer event ever to be held at Razorback Stadium, a venue mostly reserved for fall Saturdays and “Woo Pig Sooie.” Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams will take part in this, making it one of the largest non-college sports events hosted in Northwest Arkansas.

What’s shocking is that this move comes right after the Arkansas athletic department reported a $6.89 million surplus for fiscal year 2025, which makes them financially strong. According to reports, the department generated a net revenue of $11.78 million, even though that figure doesn’t include $4.89 million, which is paid to the university. Even with that, the amount is the highest for the program since fiscal year 2021.

So why the aggressive push for new events like the Golden Clash? For AD Hunter Yurachek, the answer isn’t just about money, but about putting the university in an ‘international spotlight.’ It is a strategy that becomes clearer when looking at the financial struggles of the department’s non-revenue sports.

Also, the announcement about the Golden Clash comes at a good time. That’s because the US is set to host the FIFA 2026 World Cup later in June. This way, it will give them a chance to put the Razorbacks in the national spotlight for sports other than football.

The U of A even partnered with Oak View Group to bring big concerts and events to Razorback Stadium and Bud Walton Arena so that they can make more money to help student athletes while delivering fan entertainment. It’s not the first time that a program has hosted a sports game other than football to gain international traction. Notre Dame Stadium hosted an international soccer match between English giants Chelsea and Scottish royalty Celtic in 2024 to bring major global club attention to the program.

Even Michigan hosted its first-ever concert held by Zach Bryan in September 2025. So, more than money, it’s also about creating national buzz. Looking at the condition of other sports, this move makes sense.

Arkansas faces a major financial decline

Arkansas athletics makes a lot of money overall, but some sports still couldn’t reach the mark. Their recent financial report shows how uneven things are around the program despite being an SEC program that brings in massive revenue. Two of the programs among them are men’s golf, which made only $165 in FY 2025, and women’s tennis, which made just $82, not even $100, for a combined total of $247.

So, it’s pretty clear that schools know which sports can make money; that’s exactly why they depend more on football and basketball. Their football division carried the program, making nearly $30 million in profit, earning $87.1 million while spending $57.3 million.

Credit goes to head coach Bobby Petrino, who sparked fans’ excitement and attracted a massive $7.3 million in ticket sales. But a 2-10 season showed their team’s flaws. Even men’s basketball earned $25.4 million and cleared $4.1 million in profit. But it went into a $3.1 million deficit in 2025. However, with the shift, football and basketball provide the most financial support to the program.

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As most other sports do, they take in money and lose cash with almost nothing in return. It remains to be seen if things change in the 2026 season. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.