Does the profitability of a college's football program affect its academic reputation?

I stumbled across this article on Forbes about the most profitable college football programs. It got me wondering, could a college's football profitability have any influence on its academic reputation or offerings? Or is it all kept totally separate?

The profitability of a college's football program can indirectly contribute to its academic reputation in various ways. Funding from profitable athletic programs can enhance university facilities, fund scholarships, and draw attention to the college at a national level, which could cause an increase in applications.

Football, and athletics in general, can significantly contribute to a school's profile and its visibility nationally, which may drive more student interest and applications. This increased interest could, in turn, result in a more competitive application process, leading to a higher caliber of students attending the institution. Over time, this could play out in a positive effect on the academic reputation of the school.

However, the relationship isn't as direct as one might think. Colleges separate their operating budget into different funds, one of which is dedicated to athletics, and it includes earnings from sports. Although a portion of these revenues can be used for academic scholarships, the athletic budget does not directly fund academic programs or faculties.

Also, the academic reputation of a university tends to be influenced more by factors such as the quality of faculty, research output, and academic support services, rather than the success of the athletic programs. Indeed, there are plenty of highly respected academic institutions with modest or non-existing football programs.

So, while a successful, profitable football program could indirectly enhance an academic reputation through increased recognition and funding for scholarships, it should not be considered a direct indicator or determinant of academic quality.