This study critically examines the correlation between daily caloric intake and energy expenditure among 77 male hosteller students enrolled in Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) and Master of Physical Education (M.P.Ed.) programs at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), India. Recognizing the physiological demands of high-intensity physical activity in competitive sports, the research employs validated anthropometric and metabolic equations to compute Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), and Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE). The analysis revealed a statistically significant mean daily energy deficit of 360.05 kcal (p < 0.01), with average TDEE (M = 2,778.76 kcal/day) consistently surpassing the reported mean caloric intake from standardized hostel meals (M = 2,418.71 kcal/day). Pearson correlation coefficients indicated strong positive relationships between body weight and all energy expenditure variables (r = 0.94–0.98, p < 0.001), and significant associations between Body Mass Index (BMI) and metabolic rates, suggesting systemic undernutrition among students with higher physical activity levels. Comparisons against global (WHO) and national (ICMR-NIN) dietary benchmarks further underscore the inadequacy of institutional meal provisioning for active male athletes. The study emphasizes the urgent need for personalized nutrition strategies, macro- and micronutrient optimization, and dietary periodization tailored to athletic workloads. The findings advocate for evidence-based interventions and policy reforms in university residential nutrition programs to ensure sustainable health, optimal recovery, and peak athletic performance. This research offers a novel contribution to the intersection of sports nutrition and institutional food policy, with implications for broader applications in collegiate and elite athlete management systems.