really might be concerned at the level of 10 paying students

Might be penny wise and pound foolish, but it is within possibility that universities care about having 10 non-paying students instead of paying ones. And it might be the case they really are aiming to fill everything up they can next fall to stabilize their bottom lines. I'm pretty confident our local U will aim to have every dorm spot absolutely filled next year if public health allows it at all, and every seat in big courses filled, etc. Compared to everything else the football team both costs and brings in, having ten fewer scholarships might not be the best way to save money, but it might also be one of their few options.