A newly released NCAA report shows that only 14 of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools made money from campus athletics in the 2009 fiscal year, down from 25 the year before.

Researchers blame the sagging economy and suggested that next year's numbers could be even worse.

The research was done by accounting professor Dan Fulks of Transylvania University, a Division III school in Lexington, Ky. It shows the median amount paid by the 120 FBS schools to support campus athletics grew in one year from about $8 million to more than $10 million.

The NCAA doesn't release individual schools' revenues and expenses. But Fulks confirmed that Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Texas and Tennessee are among the select group that made money from athletics. So is Missouri, which reported generating $2 million in profits from campus athletics in 2009.

Sixty-eight FBS schools reported turning a profit on football, with a median value of $8.8 million. The 52 FBS schools that lost money on football reported median losses of $2.7 million.

The breakdown for basketball programs at those 120 schools was nearly identical.

FOOTBALL

Clarett wants to play in UFL Former Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett filed a motion with a judge asking to be allowed to travel to try out with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. A review of the motion was set for Monday afternoon and then later pushed back to Aug. 30. Clarett cannot leave the state until he receives clearance from the court. On Monday, Clarett finished up 4 1/2 months in a locked-down, dormitory-style facility that serves as a transition for those getting out of prison.

around the horn

Figure skating: Evgeni Plushenko is no longer eligible for the Sochi Olympics after failing to appeal a decision by international skating officials. The Olympic gold and silver medalist was stripped of his eligibility in June after skating in exhibition shows without receiving permission from the Russian federation.

NBA: Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is bringing back Kwame Brown, who he once signed straight out of high school with the No. 1 overall pick in 2001. Brown got a one-year deal.

Lacrosse: The Swarm traded the rights to forward Kevin Buchanan and their fourth-round selection in the 2010 NLL entry draft to the Boston Blazers in exchange for forward Mat Giles and a first-round selection in the 2012 NLL entry draft. Giles, 34, recorded 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists) last season.

NHL: A resolution to the summer-long Ilya Kovalchuk saga appears to be nearing. New Jersey Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek, General Manager Lou Lamoriello and Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, met with NHL executives at the league offices in Manhattan, a sign the process might be nearing a conclusion. No contract has been submitted to the league for approval. It's possible a signed contract could be submitted to the NHL as early as Tuesday. ... The Red Wings agreed to a two-year contract with forward Justin Abdelkader. He played in 50 games for the Red Wings last season. He had three goals, three assists and was third on the team with 152 hits.

WNBA: Reigning WNBA MVP Diana Taurasi signed a multiyear contract extension with the Phoenix Mercury, ending speculation that she will take next season off to get a break from playing nonstop every year since she left Connecticut after winning three national championships.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal will be the top- seeded man when the U.S. Open starts next week. Roger Federer is seeded second. The women's seedings have been delayed one day because of a rainout of Sunday's final at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. On Monday, world No. 2 Carolina Wozniacki defeated Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 to win that tournament. It appears Wozniacki, who lost to Kim Clijsters in last year's final, will get the top seed at the U.S. Open because Serena Williams, the world's top-ranked player, has withdrawn while recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

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