N.J. voters have spoken — and Rutgers football isn’t going to like what they said
A stunning 67% of voters want the state to slash funding for the Scarlet Knights, even as Gov. Mikie Sherrill faces resistance on nearly every other budget cut she's proposed.
As New Jersey wrestles with a record‑high state budget and a structural deficit, Gov. Mikie Sherrill faces stiff resistance to most proposed spending cuts — with one notable exception. A majority of voters say Rutgers University’s football program should get a big funding cut.
A new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University found broad voter support for reducing state aid to Rutgers football, even as residents remain divided over cutting K-12 school aid, higher education funding and property‑tax relief programs. The poll found 67% of voters said they support cutting state money for the Rutgers football team. Just 31% opposed a cut.
The sentiment crosses party lines, with 64% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans backing a reduction in football funding at the state university. Rutgers officials declined to comment. The poll results follow reporting by NJ.
com showing the Rutgers athletics program received an estimated $40 million in state funding over the past several years under former Gov. Phil Murphy. By comparison, the program received about $100,000 over eight years during the administration of former Gov.