USC football is the most important athletic program at USC. It’s under the microscope 24/7, 365 by local and national media, as well as alumni and boosters alike.
It’s a numbers business. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. USC athletics has a budget of over $100 million and the football program made around $15 million during the 2014-2015 school year.
In all of college athletics, football and basketball make money and the other programs lose money. USC is no different, except the basketball program has been a laughing stock save for this current season, and has lost money as well.