So, my top six for the Hurricanes? Yeah, I can get on board with that.
For a long time now, details about college football team budgets have been somewhat mysterious, leaving fans and analysts guessing about the real expenses involved in team-building. Recently, The Athletic made an effort to lift that veil, releasing a detailed analysis that shines a light on how much programs are actually spending.
To ensure accuracy, they consulted a variety of credible sources: the agents handling contracts, the coaching teams making decisions during games, and the wealthy donors keeping a close watch from their luxurious seats.
The reporters reached out to every school, giving them an opportunity to explain or comment on their numbers. Although many athletic departments typically keep player compensation details private—citing privacy laws, local regulations, or competitive strategies—a good number still decided to share their thoughts.
According to the breakdown by The Athletic, Ohio State and Oregon topped the list:
- Ohio State ($49-54 million)
- Oregon ($48-54 million)
- Texas ($45-55 million)
- LSU ($47-50 million)
- Texas A&M ($45-50 million)
- Miami ($44-50 million)
- Notre Dame ($41-48 million)
- Ole Miss ($39-45 million)
- Tennessee ($41-43 million)
- Alabama ($38-42 million)
You can view the complete list of estimated roster budgets for Power 4 teams here.
I’m thrilled to finally share this project with everyone.
After extensive reporting, we’ve estimated the roster budget for every P4 team.
These figures reach up to $55M, starting at around $8M.
Check where your team stands—and see how others are doing.
Read for free:https://t.co/JObx6x7VaI
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 16, 2026
The NIL era has essentially removed the pretense of “amateurism,” and whether some traditionalists like it or not, it’s become a straightforward arms race in college football.
If you don’t spend like an NFL team, you might find yourself stuck in the limbo of mid-tier bowl games.
Honestly, I’m just relieved that my Miami Hurricanes have decided to compete aggressively. We’ve opened our wallets and assembled a top-notch roster, which has us aiming for our first national championship since 2001.
As the famous Roger Stone once said: “You play by the rules as they’re written. When they change the rules, you change the way you play the game.”
