BYU has had shortfalls before.
It seems that many stereotype (not accusing) the BOT and administrators on a regular basis, most especially the honor code office. What actually happens behind closed doors is far more reasonable and understandable when all factors are actually known.
To get rid of sports over a bad run of a year or two would have fundamental impact that is difficult to fully quantify. BYU athletics are not some appendage that can be surgically removed without having impact to many other parts of the University. Many budgets would be impacted which would then have to receive money from other sources. The BYU athletic department is quite unique in that it receives essentially no University money directly, but take it away and there would be some real scrambling going on to make up the difference. I don't think anyone knows for sure what the impact would be, but it is not a zero-sum game.
BYU-tv for one would be scrambling.