The football teams at Maricopa Community Colleges will be allowed to play for at least another two years. Officials with the district were considering eliminating the sport from their athletics department.

Officials decided this week to give football team leaders two years to improve their student success metrics. The program came into question after a district task force determined it was the lowest performing sport when it came to factors like loan default rates and GPA levels.

Matt Hasson, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Community College District, said officials want to make sure they’re using taxpayer money effectively because it takes a lot of funding to maintain the district’s four football teams.

"They are expensive," Hasson said. "You’re looking at insurance, you’re looking at facilities, you’re looking at equipment. So that is something that we’re looking at. If we’re not successful in the classroom. Are we using that money wisely."

The final decision on the fate of the football teams will be made in 2019.

EDITOR'S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to Maricopa Community Colleges.