Roster Riches Fuel College Football's $50 Million Era
Sports Illustrated finds that 2026 marks a new era in college football where programs across the Power 4 and beyond are spending roughly $20–$50 million per roster, with NIL-driven compensation reaching hundreds of millions and school spending likely surpassing $1 billion across the FBS. Leaders like Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, LSU and Texas A&M are cited, with big jumps in the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 and even Group of 6 programs increasing budgets. Outside NIL deals, brand partnerships and multimedia rights are increasingly used to distribute dollars, signaling a market that shows no sign of pulling back on rosters’ price.
