Projecting a $100 million loss in revenue this school year, Iowa became the first Big Ten school since the pandemic started to announce sport cuts.

With an estimated deficit of between $60 million and $75 million for 2020-21, the Hawkeyes will trim their athletic program from 24 sports to 20.

“A loss of this magnitude will take years to overcome. We have a plan to recover, but the journey will be challenging,” Iowa President Bruce Harreld and athletic director Gary Barta wrote in an open letter.

According to federal filings for the 2018-19 school year — the most recent available — the four sports cut at Iowa involved 84 athletes and $4.8 million in expenses. They combined to produce around $559,000 in revenue.

Swimmers Charlie Feller of Madison West and Aidan Lohr of Baraboo were committed to join the Hawkeyes for the upcoming season.

Iowa will honor existing scholarships through graduation if athletes from the swimming and diving, men’s gymnastics and men’s tennis teams opt to stay in school there. NCAA athletes whose sports are eliminated also can transfer to another school without the customary one-year penalty.