Appearing on the “Conqu’ring Heroes” podcast with former Wolverine Jon Jansen on Tuesday, Michigan’s Director of Athletics, Warde Manuel, said the return of the university’s football program will shave approximately $20 million off the department’s deficit created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Detroit News’ Angelique Chengelis provided some commentary from the podcast, which the publication shared on Twitter.

“We don’t know the final potential impact of playing less games, but based on our estimates, if we do have the ability to play the games this year and get through, our deficit would go from $100 million to about $80 million,” Manuel said, via the Chengelis article.

“But it all depends on how everything goes, how it goes with basketball, all the things that really drive the revenue.”

It is no secret that football is a driving force behind the athletic department at many major universities, but it is still staggering to see such a large number attributed to the reinstatement of this year’s fall season. Hopefully Michigan and the B1G as a whole are able to avoid major issues while completing the schedule.

The No. 18 Wolverines will begin their season against the No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday on ABC.

Michigan’s first home game will take place the following Saturday, October 31, Halloween, against the rival Michigan State Spartans at 12 p.m. ET on FOX.